Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has described the absence of budget line as one of the major factors hindering the full implementation of the Child Rights Law in Edo State.
The Executive Director/Secretary of CISLAC Board, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, disclosed this at the CSOs training on advocacy for improved Child Rights Implementation in the state.
Musa, represented by the CISLAC Senior Finance and Audit Officer, Muhammad Murtala, said that there is a Child Rights Implementation Committee set up by the government but it is not funded.
He said since the committee was constituted, it has not met due to lack of funds to drive the process.
Mr. Musa added that one of the ways out of the quagmire is to have a budget line so that the Child Rights Law can fully takes its course in the state.
“As we speak, there is a Child Rights Implementation Committee but that committee is not funded as we speak and that committee is not meeting.
“So, if the committee is not meeting, then the committee is not functioning. So, we wanted the state government to create a specific budget line to fund the meetings of that committee so that periodically, they can meet and review, know each agency saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the Child Rights Law, have resources to implement, for the interest of the children in the state”, Musa said.
Speaking on the”Role of CSOs in advocacy for child care and protection: Budget advocacy for child rights implementation “, the Executive Director, Connected Advocacy, Prince Israel Orekha, said, CSOs must support the government in ensuring that the child right and the child protection units are strengthened.
He said there should also be an improved advocacy for citizens to understand the child protection law and support its full implementation
For the coordinator, National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria, Mrs. Ronke Ojeikere, while speaking on “The functions and roles of the Child Rights Implementation Committee and addressing Child Labour Crisis in Edo State, she said lack of continuity of programme has been one of the major challenges facing the implementation of the Child Rights Law.
