Group Commends Bauchi Gov for Signing Child Rights Bill into Law

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

A Civil Society Organisation, Young Leaders Network (YLN), has commended the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed for signing into law the child rights bill passed by the state’s House of Assembly.
Executive Director, YLN,  Seun Onarinde, who spoke in behalf of the group, said the new law will address the problems and needs of children, youth and women in the state.

 “We are exceptionally pleased by the gesture of the Bauchi state government led by Governor Bala Abdukadir  Muhammed in signing the bill. This is a laudable step by the government and a strategic move in protecting the rights of children everywhere in the state,” Onarinde said in a press release made available to Journalists yesterday.

Mohammed had on December 28, 2023 assented to the bill, during the signing of the state’s 2024 budget into law.
 “The signing of this law has also projected the Governor Mohammed-led administration and the state at large as one which cares about the wellbeing of her young and vulnerable citizens”.

“We see it as an important breakthrough in the efforts for the protection of children and girls’ rights in Bauchi State.
“The domestication of the Child Rights Act in Bauchi State is indeed a timely development in the State that is battling with numerous child abuses and surge in the number of out-of-school children.
“YLN commends all civil society organisations, government statesmen and stateswomen, legislators and community/ traditional leaders who have contributed to the domestication of this law in Bauchi State.

“We also call on the state government, development partners and other stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure proper operation structures are put in place for the smooth implementation of this law throughout the state,” the group added.
YLN said it had been working in the past six years to protect the rights of women, children, and youth in 13 locals in the state, stressing that it also championed the campaign for school safety to ensure that boys and girls learn in a safe, secure atmosphere.

“Young Leaders Network is calling on all stakeholders and caregivers of children to partner with the government in upholding the dignity of the children they work with through ensuring access to education and healthcare , while shielding them from harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), rape, child marriages, child trafficking and so on,” it added.