Children in Katsina State without birth certificates may soon be unable to access government-owned hospitals or attend public schools in the state.

Governor Dikko Radda, who made this announcement on Friday afternoon, stated that the state plans to introduce a law prohibiting children who fall into this category from accessing government welfare.

Radda was speaking at the Continental Event Centre, Katsina, while flagging off a state-wide e-Birth Registration Exercise.

He lamented that some parents were in the habit of failing to register their children at birth, with many such children growing up not having birth certificates or knowing their actual date of birth.

He said it was against this background that the state has decided to come up with the law, which would see such children not getting any form of welfare from government.

He explained that when the law is enacted, children who fall under such a category would not be treated in public hospitals, attend public schools, or get any form of assistance from government.

The governor said children without birth certificates often face challenges when they grow up, especially when it comes to issues of job opportunities, marriages, travelling abroad, and so on.

He said the e-birth registration exercise is an avenue for those who have not registered their children to do so, adding that measures have been put in place to ensure a smooth, state-wide exercise.

According to him, internet-connected computers have been deployed to all 361 wards of the state and would be stationed at the residential areas of religious, community, and village heads.

“The exercise is aimed at ensuring that every child remains visible, legally, socially, and statistically,” the governor said.

He, therefore, called on parents to bring their children to such centres for their birth registration, adding that the process takes a few minutes and is free.

During the launch, Radda performed a symbolic presentation of e-birth certificates to some women who had brought their children to be captured in the exercise.

Recently, Radda swore in three new judges of the State High Court, calling on them to uphold public trust with integrity, fairness, and the fear of God.

The newly appointed judges are Barrister Maryam Umaru Abdullahi, Barrister Shamsuddeen Abdurrahman Ƴammama, and Barrister Abubakar Muhammad Dikko.

The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Government House, Katsina, was attended by dignitaries from the three arms of government, as well as traditional rulers and family members of the appointees.

Speaking, Radda said the appointment of the new judges would go a long way to strengthen the judiciary and enhance effective justice delivery across the state.

He commended the State Judicial Service Commission for conducting a thorough and merit-based selection process that produced credible and qualified appointees.