Editorial

Domesticating Child Rights Law

Published

13 years ago

May 27, 2012

Basically, the law provides for care and protection. The child must be given sound and basic education and protected from all forms of abuse and exploitative labour while at the same time being taught to obey constituted authorities as well as shun social vices that tend to destroy their future.

Here in Rivers State, the responsibility of realising these rights encapsulated in the state’s Child Right Act 2009, is not only the concern of the state government; the parents, individual philanthropists as well as organisations are all stake holders in this task of ensuring a good child’s welfare.

The Niger Delta Children Rights Watch (NDCRW) is a non-governmental project initiative which operates in four states of the Niger Delta namely, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Rivers and Bayelsa.

The second phase of NDCRW project commenced in October 2011 and as part of the Prevent Abuse of Children Today (PACT) campaign, the NDCRW aims to raise awareness about child rights in the Niger Delta. This they do by educating communities and prosecuting anyone who commits the grave offences, that cause harm to children. The project documents, monitors and investigates cases of child abuse and works closely with government agencies such as the Police, Social Welfare and the Attorney General’s department.

According to Madeleine Bridget, a London-trained barrister and expert in child protection and case management, over 50 cases have been referred to the project since October 2011.

NDCRW project is therefore a beacon of hope for children in the Niger Delta, increasing children’s access to justice by encouraging parents, families, communities and government to take responsibility of keeping children safe.

They work to empower the stigmatised, abused and street children in addition to free medical care and counselling for children who have been abused or neglected.

The domestication of the Child Rights law in Rivers State is the window through which this group is able to access the state even as they reaffirm their commitment to pursue this ideal tirelessly for the benefit of every child in Rivers State. “We shall not rest on our oars until the goal of an equitable and safe environment where all children have access to their rights and opportunities for growth and development, is attained” they affirm.

The Rivers State Government is living up to its expectations, by providing for as well as protecting the rights of the Rivers’ Child. The free and compulsory Universal Basic Education under the best learning environment ever in, the country attests to that, so also does her Excellency’s pet project, aimed at spreading kindergarten educational centres across the LGAs in order to catch them young.

To tackle the right to medicare, the state has also put in place a medicare programme for children under the age of 6 years.

The functional homes for the motherless and handicapped as well as the orphanage established in the state are all testimonies of what the government, individuals and organisations are doing to make life meaningful to these ones in question.

Recently, the state government lunched into the express ways to rid the town of hawkers with special attention on child-hawkers.

Many people still think that beating and spanking of children is still common just is yelling abuses on children a culture, without stopping to consider the serious damage such can do to the child.

For instance, the Child Right Law in Rivers State makes it a crime to abuse children. The days of violently punishing a child are over. The time is rife for people to respect the needs of the children and treat them with the dignity they rightly deserve.

There is a huge cost to the society from the effects of child abuse and for this reason, as well as the importance of protecting children from harm, it is imperative that all work together to put an end to child abuse.

It is important that a child knows that the law protects him or her from harm and that no one has the right to hurt them.

It is important for adults to know that it is not only a crime to harm a child but also that it is punishable by law.

For example, the law states that no child shall be subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse or neglect, maltreatment, torture, inhuman or degrading punishment and attacks on his/her honour.

· Child labour is an offence, buying, selling, hiring or otherwise dealing with children for the purpose of begging, hawking, prostitution or for unlawful moral purposes are made punishable by longterms of imprisonment.

· Child abduction and child trafficking is an offence.

· Betrothal and marriage of children are prohibited.

· Sexual abuse of children is a crime

· Female genital mutilation is punishable under the law.

· It is a crime to call a child witch or wizard, you can be arrested, charged and imprisoned if found guilty.

Calling a child a witch has serious long term effects on the child’s well being. They are often stigmatized, disowned by their community, treated like lepers or even expelled from school. Do not call a child witch or wizard it causes them harm.

However, like Moses Ani, a Nigeria writer would say, much is yet to be seen on the outcome of the child Right Law and its domestication. Let us still believe and hope that something will be done so that the future of the Rivers State’s child would not be sacrificed on the altars of ignorance and social bias.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

Nigeria’s Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has unveiled a gratuitous proposal to increase the salaries of political and public office holders in the country. This plan seeks to fatten the pay packets of the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, and members of the National and State Assemblies. At a time when the nation is struggling to steady its economy, the suggestion that political leaders should be rewarded with more money is not only misplaced but insulting to the sensibilities of the ordinary Nigerian.

What makes the proposal even more opprobrious is the dire economic condition under which citizens currently live. The cost of living crisis has worsened, inflation has eroded the purchasing power of workers, and the naira continues to tumble against foreign currencies. The majority of Nigerians are living hand to mouth, with many unable to afford basic foodstuffs, medical care, and education. Against this backdrop, political office holders, who already enjoy obscene allowances, perks, and privileges, should not even contemplate a salary increase.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has stepped in to challenge this development. SERAP has filed a lawsuit against the RMAFC to halt the implementation of this salary increment. This resolute move represents a voice of reason and accountability at a time when public anger against political insensitivity is palpable. The group is rightly insisting that the law must serve as a bulwark against impunity.

According to a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the commission has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Although a hearing date remains unconfirmed, the momentous step of seeking judicial redress reflects a determination to hold those in power accountable. SERAP has once again positioned itself as a guardian of public interest by challenging an elite-centric policy.

The case, registered as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025, specifically asks the court to determine “whether RMAFC’s proposed salary hike for the president, vice-president, governors and their deputies, and lawmakers in Nigeria is not unlawful, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the rule of law.” This formidable question goes to the very heart of democratic governance: can those entrusted with public resources decide their own pay rises without violating the constitution and moral order?

In its pleadings, SERAP argues that the proposed hike runs foul of both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the RMAFC Act. By seeking a judicial declaration that such a move is unlawful, unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the rule of law, the group has placed a spotlight on the tension between self-serving leadership and constitutionalism. To trivialise such an issue would be harum-scarum, for the constitution remains the supreme authority guiding governance.

We wholeheartedly commend SERAP for standing firm, while we roundly condemn RMAFC’s selfish proposal. Political office should never be an avenue for financial aggrandisement. Since our leaders often pontificate sacrifice to citizens, urging them to tighten their belts in the face of economic turbulence, the same leaders must embody sacrifice themselves. Anything short of this amounts to double standards and betrayal of trust.

The Nigerian economy is not buoyant enough to shoulder the additional cost of a salary increase for political leaders. Already, lawmakers and executives enjoy allowances that are grossly disproportionate to the national average income. These earnings are sufficient not only for their needs but also their unchecked greed. To even consider further increments under present circumstances is egregious, a slap in the face of ordinary workers whose minimum wage remains grossly insufficient.

Resources earmarked for such frivolities should instead be channelled towards alleviating the suffering of citizens and improving the nation’s productive capacity. According to United Nations statistics, about 62.9 per cent of Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty in 2021, compared to 53.7 per cent in 2017. Similarly, nearly 30.9 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$2.15 per day. These figures paint a stark picture: Nigeria is a poor country by all measurable standards, and any extra naira diverted to elite pockets deepens this misery.

Besides, the timing of this proposal could not be more inappropriate. At a period when unemployment is soaring, inflation is crippling households, and insecurity continues to devastate communities, the RMAFC has chosen to pursue elite enrichment. It is widely known that Nigeria’s economy is in a parlous state, and public resources should be conserved and wisely invested. Political leaders must show prudence, not profligacy.

Another critical dimension is the national debt profile. According to the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s total public debt as of March 2025 stood at a staggering N149.39 trillion. External debt obligations also remain heavy, with about US$43 billion outstanding by September 2024. In such a climate of debt-servicing and borrowing to fund budgets, it is irresponsible for political leaders to even table the idea of inflating their salaries further. Debt repayment, not self-reward, should occupy their minds.

This ignoble proposal is insensitive, unnecessary, and profoundly reckless. It should be discarded without further delay. Public office is a trust, not an entitlement to wealth accumulation. Nigerians deserve leaders who will share in their suffering, lead by example, and prioritise the common good over self-indulgence. Anything less represents betrayal of the social contract and undermines the fragile democracy we are striving to build.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

Editorial

Rivers’ Retirees: Matters Arising

Published

2 weeks ago

September 8, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government deserves commendation for the manner in which it conducted the last biometric exercise for pensioners in the state. For the first time in many years, the verification process was not only efficient but also humane, a development that has brought relief to a category of citizens that often bears the brunt of neglect.

Unlike previous verification exercises that left pensioners exhausted and unattended, the latest exercise set a refreshing precedent. Retirees were given proper and sumptuous meals, and in addition, the government paid the sum of N10,000 into their accounts to cushion their transportation costs. Such gestures go a long way in demonstrating that those who had laboured for the state are not forgotten in their twilight years.

The measure was particularly necessary given that some pensioners had to travel long distances to reach their verification centres. For elderly men and women, such journeys come with physical and financial strain. By recognising these realities and easing the burden, the government has shown that pensioners deserve dignity, not disdain.

Beyond this laudable act of consideration, the authorities must reflect on the very structure of pension verification. The era of compelling retirees to be physically present for routine verification should be reconsidered. With digital tools and innovation, the government can adopt systems that capture and confirm data without the stress of physical assembly. This is crucial for pensioners residing in other states or even abroad.

While we acknowledge the importance of verification in cleaning up pension records, we cannot ignore the darker side of the matter. It is regrettable that some allowances continue to be paid to deceased pensioners, with relatives fraudulently collecting the funds. The latest biometrics, thankfully, exposed some of these sharp practices. The exercise, therefore, is not only about order but also about justice.

We urge families of deceased pensioners to be patriotic enough to inform the government of the deaths of their loved ones. It is deeply shameful that in some instances, individuals attempted to impersonate late pensioners during the biometrics. Such behaviour undermines the spirit of honesty and deprives genuine retirees of their due entitlements.

The exercise also revealed another important area of concern: the health of pensioners. It is reassuring to learn that the state government has reportedly promised to take over the medical treatment of some retirees who arrived for the biometrics in critical condition. This is a step in the right direction. Elderly citizens, after years of service, should have access to special health care facilities in the state. Setting aside hospitals or designated centres for the aged is not just desirable but necessary.

While pension payments in Rivers State have remained consistent, attention must now be directed towards gratuities. Senior citizens deserve to receive their retirement benefits without the bureaucratic hitches that have often marred the process. After years of loyal service, nothing is more demoralising than to see retirees languish for want of their gratuities. Every worker, as Scripture reminds us, is worthy of his wage.

Retirement, in any civilised society, should not be reduced to a sentence of suffering. In dealing with pensioners, government must consistently wear a human face. The humane manner displayed during this verification exercise should not be a one-off. It must become the norm in all dealings with retirees. Measures must continually be put in place to ensure that they do not feel abandoned by the state they served.

One welcome innovation has already been introduced. The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has altered the method of gratuity payment. Pensioners now receive their monies directly into their bank accounts, eliminating the cheque-based system that for years served as fertile ground for corruption. This reform is both pragmatic and forward-looking. Similarly, the implementation of the N32,000 pension harmonisation is also commendable.

Direct payments gratuities ensure transparency and drastically reduce the possibility of diversion of funds. More importantly, they restore confidence in the system and assure pensioners that their entitlements will reach them without interference. In this way, the government has not only safeguarded the process but also upheld the principle of accountability.

Seamless gratuity payment has a ripple effect on the workforce as a whole. When workers are confident that retirement will not plunge them into hardship, the temptation to falsify age in order to remain in service is eliminated. Such reforms, therefore, enhance efficiency, honesty, and productivity in the public service.

In sum, the Rivers State Government has struck a refreshing chord in its handling of pension verification. It has shown empathy, innovation, and accountability. However, the momentum must be sustained, and the focus must shift towards modernising verification methods and prioritising retirees’ welfare in health, gratuity, and dignity.

When retirees are treated with compassion and fairness, the message to those still in service is clear: faithful service to the state will not go unrewarded. The humane verification exercise, though a single event, offers a hopeful glimpse of what governance can look like when people, especially the elderly, are placed at the heart of policy.