Assembly members’ commended for contribution towards the success of workshop on Child Rights Domestication in Borno

Assembly members’ commended for contribution towards the success of workshop on Child Rights Domestication in Borno

The Lead Consultant at the five days’ workshop organized for the members of the Borno state House of Assembly, BOHA has commended the Assembly members for their attention and contribution in the success of the workshop.

The Consultant, Dr. Umar Alkali, an Associate Professor at the Department of Law, University of Maiduguri in Borno state said the Assembly members were active and studying the bill passed by the National Assembly, which the government is adopting for domestication in Borno state.

Speaking on Friday after the workshop at REIZ Continental Hotel in Abuja, Dr. Umar Alkali said the Child’s Right Act is the most comprehensive legislation on child protection in Nigeria. Stating that it’s domestication in Borno state is a good omen and a welcome development.

“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 meant for the Borno child especially now that the state is faced with a number of unaccompanied children returning as refugees and internally displaced persons, IDPs, Dr. Alkali said: “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 a Child Rights implementation committee on the bill which is a committee that serves as the watchdog to ensure that the provisions of the bill are 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 institutions where children are kept for them to be corrected and become better members of the society.

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“Always give the child a second chance because likely the crime he committed is as a result of the 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 society.”

Also speaking on the child right and the 12 years of insurgency in Borno state, Dr. Umar Alkali said the law will help greatly in cushioning the effect of the conflict on children because of the peculiarities of Borno state being a state that passes through these periods of conflicts.

According to him the law has made provisions. “Like I said earlier, children are in contact with the law. These are children that did not actually commit any crime but they suffered a trauma or they are abused. Because of all these the law has provided a place where these kinds of children can be kept for them to be rehabilitated. For them to become better persons and for the trauma to be addressed by experts.

“So, this law has made provisions because there are currently six institutions where the law has made provisions for keeping children. These are managed by the government or supervised by the government. The law also provided opportunity for the NGOs to take care of children but it shall be under supervision of the government with the approval of the ministry of women affairs or the ministry on charge of children with constant monitoring because it’s not just about approving but from time to time the government will pay unscheduled visit to see and assess the level of compliance with protection and safety of children in such institutions.

” In fact, even after an approval is given and the institution is running and keeping children, protecting children and giving all that is needed for children. If that institution or that NGO fails in its responsibilities the law has given the commissioner the power to withdraw that licence or certificate for running such an institution.” Dr. Alkali said.

Assembly members’ commended for contribution towards the success of workshop on Child Rights Domestication in Borno