Abia Children Parliament Demands Insurance Policy For Education

The Children Parliament in Abia has passed a resolution urging the state government to evolve an insurance policy for the education of children under the Child’s Right Law.

The resolution was passed in Umuahia at the parliament’s public proceedings as part of activities marking the African Child’s Day celebration.

Miss Chinecherem Ogbodo, representing Aba South Constituency, who sponsored the motion, said government had more roles to play in  the education  of children.

She also canvassed for more incentives for teachers to encourage them to effectively perform their duties of impacting knowledge on children.

Ogbodo decried the delay in the payment of teachers’ salaries for five months, noting that the development could dampen their morale.

She also advised teachers to always follow their scheme of work to ensure quality education.

Mr Kelechi Akwarandu, representing Arochukwu constituency, urged government at all levels to increase the budgetary allocations for children’s welfare, adding: “Without proper budget and planning, the children will be at risk.”

Miss Nneka Anaga, the Speaker of the Parliament, said that other resolutions passed by the House, which included health care delivery and enlightenment programmes, would improve the welfare of children in the state.

She said that members of the parliament had resolved to carry out sensitisation programmes in their constituencies to enlighten children on their rights, warning that any member who failed to carry out the assignment in his or her constituency would be sanctioned.

Anaga appealed to the government to reintroduce the free feeding for school children, and the media to assist in advocating the rights of the children, expecially the vulnerable.

Mrs Odochi Orji, wife of the state governor, who was the special guest at the occasion, urged children to assist government in enthroning good governance.

She commended members of the parliament for passing the resolutions, saying: “With what you have done today, you have rekindled our hope in you, and we don’t want you to disappoint your parents.”

Orji assured the parliament that government was alive to its responsibilities, and had cleared the five months arrears of salaries owed teachers.

She advised mothers to nurture their wards to become good citizens, stressing that government would continue to play its role to secure the future of children.

One of the parliamentarians, Mr Bernard Godffrey, an orphan, was adopted by Orji, who offered him scholarship up to university level.

The theme of the African Child’s Day is: “Planning and Budgeting for Children: Our Collective Responsibility.”