The National Child Rights Implementation Committee (NCRIC) has called for a review of the Child Rights Act (CRA) to meet the current realities in Nigeria.

MacJohn Nwaobiala, the co-chair of NCRIC, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the 6th quarterly meeting of the committee, convened by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme.

“Some of the provisions in the act that were passed 20 years ago are not more realistic with the happenings in the current Nigeria society. The CRA was passed in 2003. Some of the provisions of that act are not realistic any more,” stated Mr Nwaobiala. “So it is important for us to start thinking of the review, even though the process will be long, but we need to start it.”

He added, “We need to review this law so that the CRA will be in line with the dynamics of the changes and reality in the Nigeria society, the reality of the time. This is another assignment that we have, which is very important.”

Mr Nwaobiala said the committee was a multi-sectorial committee established by the government to ensure that the rights of children and all the provisions of the CRA 2003 are implemented.

He said the committee engaged stakeholders in advocacy, monitoring what was happening, and reporting to their government, the UN and AU committees. Mr Nwaobiala said that the purpose of the 6th quarterly meeting was to review the state of the Nigerian child and the state of implementation of the child’s rights.

Mr Nwaobiala said the meeting was also convened for members to identify gaps and challenges and see how the gaps can be closed, adding that the country’s current economic situation could affect the children if care is not taken.

“Cases of child abuse are on the rise, and children are involved in exploitative labour; millions of them are out of school, many are being trafficked, kidnapped,” he said.

Ali Madugu, the director of the Child Development Department in the Ministry of Women Affairs, also called for a review of the CRA. He added that many things were not captured in the CRA when it was created.

Mr Madugu said that the dynamic nature of the Nigerian society required that the CRA be reviewed to meet the current challenges. He advised parents to give their children a positive upbringing, stressing that many people now value money and work more than caring for the home.

The federal government re-inaugurated the NCRIC in 2018 to boost the observance and popularisation of the Child’s Rights Act of 2003 provisions.

(NAN)