Children’s Day: Parliament renews call for domestication of CRA in Gombe
The Gombe state Children’s Parliament has renewed the several calls from different stakeholders for the domestication of the Child Rights Act (CRA) in Gombe state to help address the myriad of challenges faced by children in the state.
Mr Umar Farouk, the speaker of the parliament made the call during their visit to the State’s Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Gombe on Thursday.
The visit which was sponsored by Save the Children International is part of activities to mark the Children’s Day celebration by the NGO.
Farouk while making his submission said the day presented an opportunity to renew calls for the law to protect children’s rights as well as the protection of the welfare of children across the state.
He said as part of the celebration, children were usually given jobs that adults would do and other kinds of activities like parades just to make children have “a sense of belonging.”
He added that it was a day that the media and other stakeholders analyse the plights of children in the society as well as efforts of government and non-governmental organisations with a view to improving the lots of children.
“The Day provides opportunity for children to air their voices and express their concerns on issues affecting children in Nigeria.
“ SCI Nigeria has been providing a platform to Nigerian children where they will talk to their governments, policy makers and the general public on how their issues could be address and we thank them always.”
“Our submissions that we want the state government to address are to expedite passage of CRA, set up structures for the implementation of the policy to end child marriage in Gombe.
“Give priority to children education, provide adequate security in schools, provide sanitary wares to girl-child and punish all abusers of children across the state.’’
Responding, Mrs Naomi Awak, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, said the Gombe state Government was committed to the welfare and education of children in the state.
Awak added that in government’s efforts towards addressing issues of abuse, exploitation, trafficking, “the administration of Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is working towards passing the child protection bill in Gombe state.’’
In his remarks, Mr Akpan Effiong, Community Engagement and Advocacy Coordinator, SCI, Gombe state office said the Day revolved around children and “if you look at it everything revolves around children because they are the future.’’
Effiong stated that the potentials in children if not well harnessed could have negative impact on the nation in the nearest future, hence, the need for policies and programmes to be implemented to ensure that their rights were protected for the good of the society.
“Our message today for the ministry is simple, the protection of the rights of women and children. In Gombe, the assurance is always there that the executive has actually transmitted the child rights bill to the House of Assembly and if not because of the present (parliamentary) strike, it could have been passed into law.
“What we are advocating is for actions to be expedited and see how the bill can be passed into law so that our children can be safe and their potentials well harnessed.’’
The SCI official also called for structures to be put in place to implement policies that have already been initiated to fast-track the reduction in cases of rape, child harassment, early marriage and others.
Children’s Day: Parliament renews call for domestication of CRA in Gombe