By Patrick Ochei
The Child’s Rights Implementation Committee, a body legally saddled with the responsibility of protecting the rights of children under the Delta State Child’s Rights Law of 2008, has vehemently resolved to vigorously carry out another round of advocacy, to enable it engage in more proactive implementation of the law in the current administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
This resolution was reached at the August 1, 2023 meeting of the Committee, which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Mrs. Kevwe Agas at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat in Asaba.
At the end of the fruitful deliberations, the Chairman, Mrs. Kevwe Agas said the Committee would carry out an advocacy to the new Secretary to State Government (SSG), Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Commissioner of Police, etc.
The Chairman also announced that the Committee would engage in membership revalidation by writing to the agencies and professional bodies comprising the Committee, to either recertify their current representatives in the Committee or change them, adding that such action would help to identify those who are active in the Committee.
In line with the above, the State Committee equally resolved to inaugurate the Child’s Rights Implementation Committees at the local government levels in order to drive implementation down to the grassroots.
In a nutshell, having keenly observed the deteriorating standard of education at the primary and secondary school levels across the state, the Committee therefore, decided to write to the Government to bring to its notice, the indulgence of the children in moral decadence as a result of overpopulation, shortage of infrastructure and lack of commitment on the part of the teachers in these various schools.
It was noted that if the basic needs of the pupils and students are provided and strictly monitored, the overall benefit would be in the best interest of Government and society in general.
