the mandate to monitor, promote and protect the human rights of all Nigerians. The Commission uses the media to propagate its functions. The Commission is now further empowered to discharge its mandate. 3.3.2 The mandate of the Legal Aid Council was reviewed in the new Legal Aid Act 2011 recently assented to by the President in an effort to enhance its activities in the area of handling cases brought to it by litigants, especially indigent and underprivileged Nigerians who require its services. 3.3.3 Nigerians enjoy a great deal of political rights. The Freedom of Information has been added to the Fundamental Human Rights with the signing into law of the Freedom of Information Bill in 2011. Most importantly, the nullification of the Public Order Act by the Nigerian Court of Appeal has ensured that restrictions and policing of the right to freely assemble are lifted, thereby protecting important civil liberties. 3.4 Objective 4: Uphold the Separation of Powers, including the Protection of the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legislature. 3.4.1 The Doctrine of Separation of Powers is a fundamental constitutional provision in Nigeria. To ensure the independence of the Legislature and the Judiciary, each of them accesses its budgetary allocation directly as appropriated, without any interference from the executive. 3.4.2 The Legislature in Nigeria is quite independent and has made important strides towards exercising its independence through their oversight activities on the actions of the executive. They have demonstrated total independence in the choice of their leadership without imposition by the executive. The 23