Tambuwal Signs Sokoto Child Protection Bill Silence On Underage Marriage. As UNICEF , PLAN INTERNATIONAL Hails The Governor

Tambuwal Signs Sokoto Child Protection Bill Silence On Underage Marriage
As UNICEF , PLAN INTERNATIONAL Hails The Governor

By Onuminya Ochowechi In Sokoto

As Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Monday signed Child Protection Bill into law some stakeholders were in opinions that there are salient issues that need to be addressed.
Though the Child Right Protection Bill defines a child as a person below the age of 18 and seek to protect them from abuses.

The new law still not protect certain underaged persons from being married off.
While Fielding questions from stakeholders at the sensitization workshop organised by United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF),  Plan International in collaboration with Ministry of Justice, Women and Children Affairs the Attorney General , and commissioner of Justice Suleiman Usman (SAN) says the law is silence about marriage age of a girl child.

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He further added that at least before a girl could be given out for marriage she might have acquire Ordinary Certificate that is secondary School equivalent.

Usman disclosed that the new law has 205 sections stressing that the emergence of the law would end the prevalence child abuse in the state.

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He maintained that the law covers key aspects of the lives of a child and adolescents .
He noted that the rights is divided into ” survival rights, development rights, participation rights and protection rights”.
The commissioner said the Sharia would take precedence of any matter in the new law concerning a Muslim child against the religious law.

He divulged that in the new law  a child has right to education saying the Almajiri Islamic schools has  been modeled  after Podzol Indonesia model having a curriculum developed  for it.

Earlier the commissioner of women and children affairs Hajia Kulu.Abdullahi Sifawa said as coordinating ministry ,it will beam its touch light  on the violators of the law.

In another development United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended the Sokoto State Government for signing the Child Protection Bill into law.

Speaking at the sensitization workshop on Wednesday UNICEF field officer in the state Mr Pius Uwamanua described the gesture as a major step forward for Children’s rights in Nigeria.

He enjoined those state yet to domesticate the law to emulate Sokoto State.