THE lead consultant and associate Professor department of Law, university of Maiduguri, Dr Umar Akali,has commended Borno state assembly members for their immense contributions towards the actualisation of the workshop on the domestication of the Child’s Right act.
He said, the Assembly members have taken a giant leap by vividly studying the bill passed by the National Assembly,for possible adoption and domestication by the Borno state government.
The workshop,held at REIZ Continental Hotel in Abuja, discussed the Child’s Right Act is the most comprehensive manner for the legislation on child protection in Nigeria and that it’s domestication in Borno state is a good omen and a welcome development.
Hear him,”And with the reboust attention given by the members of Borno state house of Assembly in the 5 days workshop we just concluded one would say Borno state is ready to move with the pace towards liberating children from abuse. They have contributed immensely towards the success of this workshop. We read the bill from section one to section 206, which is the last section.
“All the members appreciate the fact that the law meant well. The law is meant to protect the children in Borno state without descrimination. The law has provided for rights for children and equally provided responsibilities for children.
Speaking on the law and what it stood for the Borno child especially now that the state is faced with a number of unaccompanied children returning as refugees and internally displaced persons.
Dr. Alkali added,”In addition, it has provided a ministry where the ministry in charge of the affairs children will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the law where committees are formed. For instance, we have Child Rights implementation committee on the bill which is a committee that serves as the watchdog to ensure that the provisions of the bill is implemented.
“One other important aspect of the law is that it has made provisions where children are kept. For instance, where a child is in conflict with the law or in contact with the law – meaning that for instance, a child commits a crime, he is in conflict with the law. So, it is improper to keep such a child in prison where adults are kept. Because the possibility for him becoming even a more hardened criminal is there. So, the law has made provisions for correctional institution where children are kept for them to be corrected and become better members of the society.
“Always give the child a second chance because likely the crime he committed is as a result of influence of an adult. Or he does not even know that what he is doing is wrong. So, always give a child a second because he will be a better member of the society.
