WHAT ARE THE IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS FOR THE CHILD’S RIGHTS ACT IN NIGERIA?

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WHAT ARE THE IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS FOR THE CHILD’S RIGHTS ACT IN NIGERIA?

Section 260 of the Child’s Rights Act established the National Child Rights Implementation Committee. According to the Act, the Act shall comprise:

“(a) the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development, as Chairman; (b) one person to represent each of the following Federal Ministries and Governmental Bodies -(i) Women Affairs and Youth Development; (ii) Education; (iii) Information and National Orientation;(iv) Health;(v) Justice; (vi) Labour and Productivity;(vii) Foreign Affairs;(viii) National Planning Commission;(ix) Nigerian Law Reform Commission; (x) Nigeria Police Force; (xi) Nigeria Prisons Service; (xii) Nigerian Immigration Service; (xiii) National Broadcasting Commission; (xiv) News Agency of Nigeria; (c) two persons to represent Non-Governmental Organisations concerned with the rights and welfare of children; (d) three persons to represent the broad spectrum of the relevant disciplines in the academic institutions; (e) three childcare experts from various disciplinary backgrounds; (f) one person to represent the Nigerian Union of Journalists; (g) one person each to represent each of the following United Nations Agencies (i) United Nations Children Fund, as a collaborating agency; (ii) United Nations Educational scientific and cultural organisation as an observer agency; (iii) International Labour Organisation, as an observer agency; and (iv)World Health Organisation, as an observer agency; (h) such other persons or bodies, as the Minister may, from time to time, appoint.”

The Functions of National Committee include initiating actions that shall ensure the observance and popularisation of the rights and welfare of a child, continually keep under review, the state of implementation of the rights of a child, developing and recommending to the Federal Government and to the State and Local Government, through their respective State and Local Government Committees, specific programmes and projects that shall enhance the implementation of the rights of a child, collecting and documenting information on all matters relating to the rights and welfare of a child, commissioning interdisciplinary assessments of the problems relating to the rights and welfare of a child in the State, encouraging and coordinating the activities of International, Federal, State and Local Government institutions, organisations and other bodies concerned with the right and welfare of a child.

Other duties of the Committee include organising meetings; conferences symposia and other enlightenment for a on the rights and welfare of a child, coordinating the activities of and collaborate with the State Committee, prepare and submit periodic reports on the state of implementation of a rights of the child for the submission to the Federal Government, African Union and the United Nations; and performing such other functions relating to the rights of a child as may, from time to time, be assigned to it.

Notably, there is state and local government equivalent of the National Child Rights Implementation Committee charged with similar duties. Section 264 of the Child’s Rights Act provides for that of the state and Section 268 provides for the Local Government Child Rights Implementation Committee.

NB: This article is not a legal advice, and under no circumstance should you take it as such. All information provided are for general purpose only. For information, please contact chamanlawfirm@gmail.com

WRITTEN BY CHAMAN LAW FIRM TEAM

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