Principal Officers of the State Children’s Parliament and Girl Ambassadors have urged the Federal Government to include them in the decision-making process in Nigeria to air their positions, especially on issues affecting them.
The children made the call on Thursday in Abuja, in a communique at the end of a two-day ‘Capacity Building Training for Principal Officers of State Children’s Parliament and Girl Ambassadors’.
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It was organized by the Save the Children International (SCI-Nigeria) in Abuja from SCI implementing states of Benue, Borno, Cross River, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe.
Others are: members of the Child Rights Advocacy Club of GJSS Gwagwalada, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The communiqué jointly read by Speaker, Borno State Children’s Assembly, Mr Ibrahim Sunoma, and Miss Etukudo Abasi, also said that positive behaviors and decision-making should be taught in families and schools too.
They said that the call became necessary because of some identified challenges affecting them, including child labor, child marriage, out-of-school children, insecurity, healthcare, mental health and child abuse, among others.
They tasked the government on provision of medical supplies and compensation for doctors to address the specific health challenges children face.
The children also said that there should be a child-friendly justice system and an increase in budgetary allocation for children’s healthcare and welfare.
They called for stronger laws against sexual abuse targeted at children and rehabilitation to be provided for affected children and also ensure proper reportage of cases of abuse.
The communique said, “There should be legislation and implementation of the Child Rights Act (CRA), free education for all. Awareness on the consequences of early marriage which alters the course of a girl’s life and her potential should be raised.
“Parents should be encouraged to take their children to school and false myths on western education should be shunned. Leaders should create an enabling environment for education and government should invest more in education for out-of-school children,”
They said that security agents should be equipped with tools to protect children from attack and stronger security strategies to be carried out in affected areas.
Speaking earlier, the Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, SCI-Nigeria, Mr. Amanuel Mamo, said that the Children’s Day celebration was another opportunity for the organizations to celebrate children.
Mamo urged all stakeholders at federal, state and local government areas (LGAs) to renew their commitments to protect, respect and fulfill the rights of the child as articulated in the Child Rights Act (2003).
He said, “Having the opportunity to listen to these children over the last two days is a reason, more than enough, to celebrate children.
“If the future is at hand, therefore, we are given historical opportunity and responsibility to shape and paint the futures as bright as we want it to be. The smart thing to do to paint the future is to invest in children.”
He also urged the states yet to pass the Child Protection Bill to prioritize the adoption and enforcement of the Child Rights Act (2003).
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