RVHA Urges Child Rights Law Enforcement

Following a motion by the lawmaker representing Ikwerre Constituency, Hon Azubuike Wanjoku, the Rivers State House of Assembly, has given the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority (RSESA) one month to clear the streets of Port Harcourt of beggars and street traders.

In a unanimous resolution, the House on Tuesday urged the relevant departments of government to enforce the Child Rights Law passed by the Sixth Assembly in all the 23 local government areas of the state.

The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Otelemaba Amaechree, directed the Clerk of the Assembly to communicate in writing to the various ministries and departments the resolution of the Assembly.

The speaker directed that the relevant authorities should embark on sensitisation programme before clearing the streets of beggars and street traders that constitute nuisance to the city of Port Harcourt.

He thanked Hon Wanjoku for the introduction of the motion because the rights of children were being trampled upon by the adults adding that the Assembly could not fold its arms fold its to the violation of laws passed by the Assembly.

Earlier, the majority of the lawmakers agreed that the children on the streets during school hours were the children of the poor and that government owed the society a duty to take care of such persons.

Hon Ikuniyi Ibani, Andoni Constituency, Hon Lucky Odili, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency II, Nname Ewoh Ahoada and Hon Victoria Nyeche PH. I, noted that the state government had introduced free education to help the poor and suggested arrest of parents /guardians engaging children in hawking during school period.

Hon Legborsi Nwidadah, Khana I, Martins Amaewhule, Obio/Akpor II, Benibo Anabraba, Akuku –Toru, Benema Okpokiri, Okrika and Kelechi Worgu, Omuma Constituency, argued that the future growth of the society depended on what happened to the children today as future leaders.

They posited that parents, and government had roles to play to awaken the consciousness of  members of the public, because street trading particularly in Port Harcourt, constitute security risk as those involved could be informants to kidnappers and robbers.

They therefore urged the Assembly to ensure that relevant authorities implement the child rights law and clear the streets of Port Harcourt of hoodlums.