Domesticate Child’s Rights Act- Deputy Speaker To State Govts

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called on state governments that are yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act to do so, to address various challenges faced by children nationwide.

Kalu made the appeal while delivering the opening remarks in Abuja at the event marking the International Human Rights Day 2024, organized by his office, European Union Rule of Law and the Anti-Corruption Programme and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

In a statement in Abuja by his Special Assistant Press Affairs, Udora Orizu, kalu who also calls for joint efforts towards eradicating child labour in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, decries that the persistent issue of child labor and incomplete domestication of the CRA across all 36 states of our federation, remain a significant challenge for the nation.

He states that despite the legislative milestones achieved, such as the enactment of the Child Rights Act, 2003, children in Nigeria continue to face significant challenges, including abuse, neglect, exploitation, and systemic failures in the enforcement of their rights.

According to him, till date, 11 states are yet to gazette the Act leaving millions of children without the complete legal protection they deserve.

Another grave concern, he said is the persistent issue of child labor, as the National Child Labour Survey of 2022 revealed that 24 million of 62.9 million children are engaged in child labor, many of
who are forced into exploitative and hazardous conditions.

He notes that the theme of this year’s IHR, “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now: Advancing Rights and Protection for Children in Nigeria,” is apt and a call to action for all stakeholders—government, civil society, international partners, and the private sector—to unite in advancing the rights and protection of children in Nigeria.

He reaffirms the commitment of the House of Representatives to prioritize the rights of children in all their legislative efforts.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji