The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday commended the Governor of Jigawa state, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar for signing the Child Protection Bill into Law.

In a statement on Thursday, Rushnan Murtaza, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria described the development as a great achievement for the children of Jigawa state.

He said the domestication of the Child Protection Bill in Jigawa State will help safeguard the rights of children in the state and give them unhindered access to education and good healthcare.

“The domestication of the Child Protection Bill in Jigawa State will help safeguard the rights of children, including ensuring parents, caregivers and authorities across the spectrum fulfil their obligation to protect children, and prioritise access to health and education – especially for the girl-child – amongst several other demands that will enable children grow and thrive on an equal footing,” said Mr Murtaza.

He encouraged the different arms of the Jigawa State government and other states with child rights legislation to show commitment to the full implementation of the Act.

On his part, the Attorney General of Jigawa State Musa Adamu Aliyu said the bill was passed at a critical time where sexual abuse, child labour and child trafficking were the order of the day in the state.

“The bill has been passed at a critical time when there is a rise in sexual abuse of children, child labour and child trafficking – all of which make children unsafe and subject them to trauma that can have lifelong impact,” Mr Aliyu said.

The Jigawa Child Protection Bill was signed into law on 22 December 2021; 18 years after the Federal Government of Nigeria enacted the Child Rights Act 2003.