By Louis Amoke
The recent passage of the Child Rights and Responsibility Bill into law in Enugu State by the State House of Assembly was no doubt a welcome development and a major breakthrough for the children of the state.
The news of the passage of the bill into law brought excitement and relief to the children of the state who had labored tirelessly for so many years to ensure that the bill sees the light of the day. The essence of the bill, which was presented to the State House of Assembly by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration as an Executive Bill was basically to protect, care and preserve the fundamental rights and responsibilities of every child in the state.
The Executive Bill sent to the House says among other things that “A child shall be given such protection and care as is necessary for the wellbeing of the child, taking into account the rights and duties of the child’s parents, legal guardian, or other individuals, institutions, services, agencies, organizations or bodies legally responsible for the child”
To the children of Enugu State, the passage of the bill was a landmark achievement and a dream come true, which marks the end of the struggle they started a long time ago. They were elated and full of appreciation not just because the long awaited bill was passed into law, but also for the passion and commitment of the governor towards the actualization of their dream.
It would be recalled that the Gov. Ugwuanyi on May 27, 2016, when the Enugu State Children under the auspices of ‘Enugu State Children’s Parliament’ paid him a Children’s Day celebration visit at the Government House, Enugu, told them that his administration had sent the Child Rights Bill as an ‘Executive Bill’ to the State Assembly for legislation. He assured them that he would lend his support and urgently liaise with the members of the House to ensure that the bill was passed into law before long.
Gov. Ugwuanyi also promised to stand by the children at all times, especially on issues concerning their well-being and future, stressing that the passage of the bill into law would be in the best interest of the children and the state at large.
The governor’s promise was sequel to a passionate appeal by the Speaker of the Enugu State Children’s Parliament, Miss Winifred Maduko, who expressed concern over the urgent need for the bill to be passed into law by the House.
While justifying her stance on the request for the passage of the bill, Miss Maduko, noted that “the bill would go a long way towards securing the future of the average child in the state by righting all the wrongs perpetrated against children by adults including some parents.”
She added that the bill would also protect the girl child from the ills of early marriage that comes in the form of diseases such as Cervical Cancer and VVF among others.
The Children’s Speaker regretted that their effort to get the bill passed in the past administrations had not been successful but expressed confidence that the governor’s commitment to the project would record a major breakthrough in the struggle to care and protect the rights of the children of the state.
While presenting the bill before the House, the leader of the House and the sponsor of the bill, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, noted that the bill as sent by the state government “meets the global best practice” and “adopts every provision in any other law that secures the protection of a child even if that provision is not specifically contained in the Act.”
He appealed to the Honourable House to continue with the process of the domestication of the bill, disclosing that its passage into law would guarantee the children’s rights to “survival and development; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; family and private life; freedom from discrimination; dignity of the child; health and health services; parental care, protection and maintenance; free, compulsory and universal primary education, among others.
Hon. Ezeugwu equally pointed out that the above rights as presented by the state government are guided by the provisions in Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, or any successive Constitutional provisions relating to Fundamental Rights of the citizens.
After clause-by-clause consideration of the report presented on the Bill by the Joint Committee Chairman, Honourable Mrs. Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu, the House passed the Bill into law.
Announcing the passage of the Bill, the Speaker of the House, Chief Edward Uchenna Ubosi, thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for his passion and bold initiative to protect and preserve the rights and responsibilities of the children of the state.
He noted that the governor, through the state Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development, provided the legal framework and enabling environment for the passage of the Bill to give the children a sense of belonging as future leaders.
The Speaker also thanked the Catholic community in the State, the Anglican Communion, UNICEF, Various NGOs and other stakeholders for their support and contributions.
Reacting to the development, the Speaker of Enugu State Children’s Parliament, Miss Maduko, described the passage of the Bill into law as a positive development and a dream come true, saying that “the struggle that had started in Enugu for a very long time ago has come to an end.”
According to her, “on behalf of the children of Enugu State, we say a very big thank you to His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for keeping to his promise to ensure that the Bill was passed. It shows that he is a child-friendly governor. We pray God to bless him more for this landmark feat for the children of Enugu State.”
She equally thanked other organizations that saw to the passage of the Bill and urged them to collaborate with the government for its implementation.
In the same vein, a cross section of Enugu Children also hailed Gov. Ugwuanyi for the landmark achievement, saying that the governor has demonstrated his love and care for the children of the state who had clamored for the passage of the Bill for several years.
Miss Nkemdilichukwu Nnamani, who identified herself as a 12-year-old student of Igbariam Primary School, Achara Layout, Enugu, while appreciating the governor for facilitating the passage of the Bill, said that it would guarantee the fundamental rights of the children of the state, in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federation Republic of Nigeria.
Another child, Nancy Udeh, equally commended the governor for his positive thinking towards the progress and future of the children of the state, adding that such gesture indicates that he is a listening and caring leader.
Earlier, the Joint Committee Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Omeje-Ogbu, representing Nsukka West Constituency, while presenting the report said that the Joint Committee conducted a three day Public hearing in which about 8000 people attended.
She explained that the Committee recommended several amendments, which were considered in the overall interest of the children.
In all, as the echo of the successful passage of the Enugu State Child Rights Bill into law takes the centre stage in the vision of the present administration to guarantee the future of the children of the state and make their lives more meaningful, the onus now rests on the shoulders of all stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the law to the letter.
Enugu State is truly in the hands of God!
Amoke writes from Enugu.
