Nigeria: Civil Societies Urge Governor El-Rufai To Sign Child Rights Bill Into Law

By Amos Tauna

Following incessant cases of rape against minors and other cases of child abuse in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, coalition of Civil Society Organizations have called on governor Nasiru El-Rufai to the speedy signing of the Child Rights Bill into law.

The Child Rights Act adopted by the federal government since 2003 aimed to domesticate the convention on the rights of a child.

The civil societies observed that as concern citizens in the state, they have realized the overwhelming disadvantages faced by children as a result of the delayed passage and implementation of the Child Rights Bill in the state.

The civil societies in a meeting in Kaduna said the passage of the bill would uphold the duties and obligations of government, parents and other authorities, organizations and bodies towards children.

They added that the passage of the bill would ensure that adequate measures are put in place against any individual or body who goes contrary to the provisions of the law.

They explained that it would among other things propel a reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the state and provide decent educational foundation for children who are the forthcoming custodians of the society’s resources.

The civil societies observed, “As a coalition of the Civil Society Organizations, it is a duty to remind and support the Kaduna State government on plans and policies that will be of benefit to the entire population, and in this case, passing the Child Rights Bill into law will be a landmark achievement to the government and people of Kaduna State.”

Earlier, the organizer of the programme, YouthHubAfrica communication officer, Malti Danjuma, stressed that the benefits children and the society stand to gain with the passage of the bill into law are enormous explaining that it would heal so many wounds that have created.

She explained that the welfare and future of the child should be paramount to any society, adding, “As the future of Kaduna State and Nigeria, we can not play with their future and that is why we as civil societies are pleading with governor El-Rufai, who has a listening ear sign the bill into law as another great achievement to his government and a pace setter to other state governments to do said.”