Children task incoming government on Rights

By Cecilia Ijuo

Some children have called on the incoming government to work towards protecting their rights.

The children made the call in  interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

They said that the Nigerian child was faced with various challenges, including child labour, violence and kidnapping, among others.

Miss Progress Umoh, Speaker, Seventh National Children’s Parliament, said that it was important for all stakeholders at the local government, state and federal government levels to preach against harmful practices.

She said harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, assault violate children’s rights.

She called for effective implementation of the Child Rights Act, quality education and scholarship as well as security among others.

She called on all stakeholders to find lasting solution to the plight of the Nigerian child.

Deputy Speaker, National Children’s Parliament, Ibrahim Zala, said that Nigerian children go through a myriad of challenges that must be looked into with a view to solving them.

According to him, some Nigerian children are in poverty, while some faced inequality and lack of access to quality education, among others.

He said that the development had denied many Nigerian children “the opportunity to attain their full potential.

“We can build a nation where every child has his or her rights protected regardless of their background or circumstances.”

He said he was looking forward to a time when a child of “nobody would become somebody.”

(NAN)