Assembly To Summon Commissioner, Others Over Child Rights Law

Rivers State House of Assembly will summon the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, and the Environmental Sanitation Authority to appear before it, if the motion brought by the lawmaker representing Ikwerre Constituency, Hon. Azubuike Wanjoku, is accepted by the House.

Hon. Wanjoku on Wednesday moved a motion, calling for the enforcement of the State Child Rights Law, Number 11, of 2009 and prayed the lawmakers to order the relevant Ministries and agencies of government to appear before the House to explain their implementation of the law.

According to him, the Assembly should direct all bodies to swiftly remove children involved in street trading, especially during school hours, and enforce the penalties provided by the law against defaulting parents and guardians.

The lawmaker urged the Assembly to order the Commissioner in-charge of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, the Environmental Sanitation Authority and all local government authorities in the State to explain their implementation of the Child Rights Law.

“This motion is a forceful protest of the degradation and exploitation of children even when Rivers State prides herself as having the best primary schools built in the country”, Hon. Wanjoku declared.

He explained that the motion became necessary as a way of seeking to protect the health and safety of children engaged in activities for the grown up which are detrimental to their physical, mental or emotional well being.

The member representing Ikwerre Constituency, challenged the Assembly to carry out their oversight functions and supervisory powers to ensure that the right actions were taken to preserve the future of the children of the State.

“The effects of these  realities are that these children are exposed to the hazards of motor accident, kidnapping, sexual abuse and most importantly, a total disconnect from the promising prospects which education offers”, he stated.

No debate was entertained in the motion as it was deferred to the next adjourned date when the House resumes sitting.