A 25-member Local Government Child’s Rights implementation committee was inaugurated in Agege area of Lagos State on Monday, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
NAN reports that the Federal Government signed into law the Child’s Rights Act in 2003, with mandate to state governments to domesticate same in their various states.
In 2007, former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, signed the Child Rights Act into Law to ensure that children in the state were protected from all forms of abuse and actions that may endanger their lives.
Agege local government, by the inauguration of the committee, became one of the area councils in Nigeria to implement Child’s Rights Law.
Mrs Abimbola Ushie, Coordinator, Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) programme, said the second component of their programme seeks to provide access to justice for women and children.
According to Ushie, RoLAC programme focuses on advancing child’s rights through the implementation of the Child’s Rights Act, stressing that the committee’s establishment is a milestone for RoLAC.
“The establishment of the Local Government Child‘s Right Implementation Committee (LGCRIC) is a milestone for us at RoLAC.
“This is so because it supports Section 268 of the Child’s Act which provides that such committee should be established at local government level.
“This committee is charged with the responsibility of initiating actions that will ensure observance and popularisation of Child’s Rights Act at grassroots level.
“This is the first of its kind in Lagos, prior to now, only the state implementation committee existed.
“RoLAC is proud to be part of this laudable development and we charge you all to be committed to ensuring the rights of every child is protected,” she admonished.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs Bola Balogun, commended the council and RoLAC for inaugurating the committee.
Balogun, represented by a Director in the ministry, Mrs Funlola Peters-Popoola, said that the stakeholders met in March with some council chairmen, including Agege chairman, and agreed on inauguration implementation committee in their councils.
“On behalf of the teeming number of children in Lagos State whose cause you are championing, I want to say thank you for this bold initiative.
“This is the duty we owe humanity and God, so that the children can in turn impact positively on the society, “she said.
The Chairman Agege LGA, Alhaji Ganiyu Egunjobi, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Oriade Ademola, said that the council was committed to the welfare of the children in the area.
He said the council’s commitment to the welfare of children gave birth to the inauguration implementation committee, assuring that they would do everything possible, including education facilities for their advancement.
