Bamidele Salami,  the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts Committee, has called for comprehensive implementation of the Child’s Rights Act across the country.

Mr Salam made the call in an interview with journalists on Monday in Abuja on the sideline of the 2024 National Children Leadership Conference, organised by Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV).

He called on the government, organisations, and individuals to implement and fund education collaboratively.

Mr Salam, who is the founder of CALDEV, said that the Child’s Rights Act has enough provisions to protect children and provide them with all that they need to live a meaningful and reproductive life.

He said that the Child’s Rights Act criminalised children hawking and begging in the streets and prohibited them from being out of school during school hours.

According to him, the act spells penalties for parents and guardians of children found on the street during school.

The lawmaker said it aimed to provide the participants with opportunities for leadership education beyond the normal pedagogical curriculum. He explained that CALDEV had partnered with various agencies to donate over 50,000 copies of books to schools nationwide.

Mr Salam said there would be delegates from some West African countries, such as Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, among others at the 2025 edition of the conference.

The House Committee on Youth Development chairman, Martins Esin, applauded the initiative, saying it will help children and teenagers discover and acquire leadership skills for their individual and national development.

The member representing the Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko federal Akwa Ibom constituency said self-discovery was an important part of the leadership journey.

(NAN)