From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Members of Ebonyi State Children’s Parliament from the three senatorial districts have called for enactment of law against under age marriage.
They made this known on Monday, in Abakaliki during the presentation of a communiqué containing some of the challenges militating against the welfare and development of children in the state to the Chief Judge, Justice Elvis Ngene.
Speaker of the Parliament, Miss. Precious Ibiam said that the document, if looked into would address lack of laboratories and libraries, infrastructural decay in some schools, lack of water and other facilities currently starring on the faces of pupils and students in various schools.
She also appealed for the employment of more special teachers as guidance counsellors, sign language teachers and interpreters for children with special needs. She stated that the unavailability of the above-mentioned facilities could hinder practical learning and researches in schools.
She further called for the subsidization of social services to reduce the effect of economic hardship that often pushed some families into giving their children for child labour and servitude: “The Parliament totally condemns child marriage and observed that most of the parents and children are not aware of its dangers and it is on this note that we are recommending enlightenment of the parents on its consequences as VVF for teenage girls.
“The parents should be sensitised on the illegality of the act and also be encouraged to train their children and wards or face legal actions for indulging in the act.”
Ibiam equally suggested the establishment of more hospitals and subsidization of health services at the government owned health facilities for the sake of school children and the aged poor persons among other issues.
Director, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Centre (HRCRC), Abakaliki, Mr. George Etamesor said that the Children Parliament comprised of elected representatives of children in Nigeria who through their sittings and deliberations make contributions to governance especially on social and other issues affecting their general wellbeing.
He disclosed that HRCRC in collaboration with the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development had recently facilitated special sittings across the zones principally to revitalize the parliament and restore its contribution to governance in the state.
He added that the parliament during its deliberation itemized issues bordering on education, health, child abuse, labour and trafficking, parenting among others.
The State Chief Judge, represented by Justice Franklin Edem said that the people at the judiciary were lovers of children and promised to protect the request of the young parliamentarians as encapsulated in the communiqué.
He advised the children to always exhibit integrity in all their dealings and adhere to the mentorship of HRCRC by taking the assignment seriously. He, then, prayed for the glory of God upon them.
The communiqué was also presented to the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, and the Coordinator, Gender Based Taskforce, Ebonyi State, among others.