A Civil Society group “Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)”, says the absence of budget line is one of the major factors hampering the full implementation of the Child Rights Law in Edo State.
The Executive Director, CISLAC , Mr Auwal Musa stated this at a CSOs training on advocacy for improved Child Rights Implementation held in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
Mr Musa, represented by the CISLAC Senior Finance and Admin Officer, Mr Muhammad Murtala, explained that the is Child Rights Implementation Committee set up by the Edo state government was not funded.
He noted that since the committee was constituted, it has not met due to lack of funds to drive the process.
Mr. Musa stressed that one of the ways out of the quagmire is to have a budget line so that the Child Rights Law can fully takes its course in the state.
“As we speak, there is a Child Rights Implementation Committee but that committee is not funded as we speak and that committee is not meeting.
“So, if the committee is not meeting, then the committee is not functioning. So, we want the state government to create a specific budget line to fund the meetings of that committee so that periodically, they can meet and review, know each agency saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the Child Rights Law, have resources to implement, for the interest of the children in the state”.
Speaking on the”Role of CSOs in advocacy for child care and protection: Budget advocacy for child rights implementation “, the Executive Director, Connected Advocacy, Prince Israel Orekha, said, CSOs must support the government in ensuring that the child right and the child protection units are strengthened.
He maintained that there should be an improved advocacy for citizens to understand the child protection law and support its full implementation.
” Having understand that today, Governor Monday Okpebholo is doing his one year in office, we want to congratulate him and also want him to look at the area of Child care and Child protection, so the need for a budget line for child care and Child protection is imperative to ensure that no child is left behind in the state.”
For the coordinator, National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria, Mrs. Ronke Ojeikere, while speaking on “The functions and roles of the Child Rights Implementation Committee and addressing Child Labour Crisis in Edo State, she said lack of continuity of programme has been one of the major challenges facing the implementation of the Child Rights Law.
” We need the child right implementation committee to be in place because of the children that we find hawking around the state.”
Earlier , Edo state Coordinator, National Human Rights commission, Mr Olumide Dosumu said child rights includes rights to proper education, safe and descent shelter , proper health care noted that every child deserves protection from harm and abuse.
Mr Dosumu who noted that some of the child right laws are outdated as it doesn’t address new challenges children face now called for stronger protection against abuse and trafficking, Better Support for Vulnerable Children like Orphans and clearer rules and faster help when kids are in danger .
