Gov Matawalle vows to partner Islamic Scholars, traditional rulers to end child abuse, trafficking

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, said his administration is determined to end all forms of child abuses and trafficking in the State through engagement with renowned Islamic scholars and Traditional leaders.
Matawalle made this known today (Wednesday) under representation by the person of the state Commissioner of women, children and social development, Zainab Lawal Gummi, at a Public Hearing on the need to eradicate child destitution and child trafficking through provision of standardized education system which held at national assembly, Abuja.
The Governor said Zamfara State Government is fully committed to ending all forms of child abuses such as Child Labour, Destitution and Trafficking through engaging Islamic Scholars and traditional rulers in order to have comprehensive ideas that will guide the implementation of all laws that will be enacted in the state.
He said that a committee has already been set-up by the State Government on Gender Based Violence and the child destitution which will soon be inaugurated, stating that, “A bill on the Child Right Act is before the State House of Assembly and has passed first reading which when enacted will make education compulsory to all children of school age in the State”.
Matawalle also drew the attention of the law makers for the need for federal Government Special social intervention to the state considering the number of orphans in the State as a result of years of banditry that eventually consumed their beloved parents.
He further explained that his administration has created many social intervention programmes with the sole aim of reducing hardship and poverty on a multitude of families which by extension will impact positively on the children of the state.
Declaring the Public Hearing session opened, the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila recalled that the Child Rights Act was assented into law by President Olusegun Obasanjo 17 years ago in 2003, but that many states are yet to enact the law that will protect the children’s rights.
The speaker explained that the Child Rights Act is to ensure that all Nigerian children are protected for the betterment of their future by providing compulsory, free basic education for all children of primary School and junior secondary school age in the country and the law will also provide punishment for the parents who failed to comply with the provision accordingly.