As Katsina State continues to grapple with cases of
child rights infringement, the state Speaker of Children's Parliament, Mubarak
Lawan Yantaba, has called on the state House of Assembly to pass the Child
Protection Bill into law.
The parliament also advocated for the enactment of
another law that will mandate girl-child education and avert early marriage in
the state.
It was reports that the Child's Right Act (CRA)
was enacted in 2003 at the federal level to serve as legal document and
protection of child rights and responsibilities in Nigeria.
Yantaba, while in audience with the state assembly
Speaker, Tasi'u Zango, on Tuesday, said the bill, if sign into law, would hold government
and parents accountable on the issues of child molestation and girls'
education.
He explained that the bill, when passed, would
ensure that the interest and rights of Nigerian child are properly taken care
of "as a protected child serve as the pillar for a prosperous society."
According to him, "A protected child is a
confident child. A protected child is the joy and pride of every society. The assembly
should also enact a law that would ensure retention of children to complete
secondary school with special focus on the girl-child.
"The assembly should also create a committee
on children affairs to either stand alone or merge with another committee where
children related and sensitive issues would take centre stage."
The children’s parliament leader reaffirmed that
for the society to make informed choices and decisions regarding health and
other life issues, "there is need for a proper legislation to guide all
gender and adolescent right issues."
Yantaba, however, called for the involvement of
religious and traditional leaders in the fight against drug abuse in the state,
saying people with history of drug abuse should not be allowed to pilot the
affairs of the society.
The assembly Speaker, represented by the member
representing Kafur state constituency, Garba Dankanjiba, said the assembly was
aware of the issue, and vowed to address it soon.
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Children's Parliament is
supported by a non-governmental organisation, Save the Children International
(SCI).
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