*As SCI calls for the involvement of children in decision making
The Federal Government has inaugurated the seventh National Children Parliament with Umeh Progress, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State as the newly elected Speaker.
Umeh has since pledged to step up efforts in ameliorating the plight of Nigerian children in terms of their right to adequate security, and improved education among other rights and privileges.
Umeh in her inaugural speech also promised to ensure that female genital mutilation, child trafficking and labour, sexual exploitation and harassment of children among other harmful practices that negatively affect the lives of Nigerian children become an issue of the past.
She said: “We must go beyond just domestication but also ensure that every state begins to implement the Child Rights Law.”
The 13-year-old Speaker further stated: “Our administration will create a platform that with the support of key stakeholders, will allow children to express their concerns about their development, survival and participation in decision-making.”
The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, while inaugurating the Children’s Parliament, appealed to states that are yet to conduct the election of their State’s Children’s Parliament to do so in other to further protect the rights of Nigerian children.
Also in his remarks, Director, Advocacy, Campaign, Communication and Media, Save the Children International, Amanuel Mamo, tasked the newly inaugurated Children Parliament to beef up strong advocacy to the government so as to scale up investment in Nigeria’s Children so as tackle the myriads of challenges bedevilling the younger generation.
He called on the government to make the National Children’s Parliament part of discussions regarding the next generation, saying that the country’s future depends on how the government invests In the lives of children today.
The SCI communications officer said: “SCI Nigeria urges that the National Children’s Parliament be a part of discussions regarding the type of Nigeria the next generation would want to see in a decade or two and beyond, as the country’s future depends on how the government invests in children today.
“Therefore, we call upon the government to double its investment in children’s rights and prioritize the full implementation of child-sensitive policies and strategies nationwide.
Mamo further called on state governments to put in place, a child protection laws implementation plan and also, create an active Child Protection Law Implementation Committee in a view to fast-track the benefits that such laws bring to the children in a given State.
