Women demand arrest parents of out-of-school children

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-rufai have been enjoined to enforce the Kaduna State Child Welfare law, by arresting and prosecuting Parents who encourage their children to drop out of school.

This point was made by a woman leader in Makarfi Local government area of Kaduna State, Hajiya  Aisha Muhammed.

Muhammed gave the charge while fielding questions from the media at a town hall meeting on Social Protection Policy and Girl Education organized by Save the Children International(SCI) in collaboration with Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Mechanism (KADSPAC) held in Makarfi yesterday.

According to her, poverty is not the main reason that forces many children to be on the streets today rather it is the Ignorance and arrogance of some parents that encourages such acts.

She added that in the state education is free, but some parents are not taking advantage of it rather prefer to send their wards to the streets for begging and hawking.

The leader of women in the grassroot, however, said the Government Social protection policy for the poor and vulnerable is a welcome development but the parents must also play their parts to ensure that the efforts are not jettisoned.

In his remarks, the chairman Makarfi Local Government Area, Engr. Kabiru Muazu Mayere said his administration will focus on girl’s child education and ensure the implementation of Kaduna state Social protection policy in the area.

The Chairman who was represented by the Executive secretary, Shuaibu Alkassim said there are some interventions by the council for people living with Disabilities(PWDs) in the area.

He also said during the Covid-19 lockdown the local government distributed palliatives to the poor and vulnerable

Similarly, the Social Protection Champion in the Local government, Ibrahim Bako Tanko said girls child education is a commitment Nigeria made with the United Nations ( UN).

He  noted that the local government must work towards ensuring that barriers to girls’ Child education such as; Socio-cultural, insecurity, access, among others which hitherto affects the girls’ child education must be addressed.