Children Day: We ‘ll strive to end child labour, NSHA, calls for action against street hawking

By David Okpashi

Nasarawa state House of Assembly has said efforts would be made through legislation to end increasing cases of child labour, street begging, hawking and other forms of child molestation, violence and out of school in Nasarawa state.

This is even as the law makers have vowed to make laws that will protect the right of children encourage education reduce out of school syndrome in the state.

Speaking at the commemoration of this year’s Children’s Day celebration, Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt.

Hon. Danladi Jatau, called for more collaborative and robust efforts to end the number of out -of-school children, child labour, street begging, hawking as well as all other forms of violence against children in the society.

According to the Speaker, the House under his leadership will enact laws and make resolutions that will protect the rights of children as future leaders.

The Speaker in statement by his Press Secretary, Jibrin Gwamna stated that the Speaker Danladi Jatau called for the provision of best education for the children to build a brighter future and gain a better society for all.

Speaker Jatau while describing children as special gifts from God, stressed the need for parents, guidance and the authorities concern to ensure that the Nigerian child is given all the necessary support through love, education and moral training to build an egalitarian society for the betterment of all.

He lamented the growing rate of out-of-school children, child labour, street hawking and begging as well as other forms of violence against children and emphasized the need for collective responsibilities to tackle the menace in the society.

“If parents, guardians and other stakeholders as well as individuals and groups join hands with government in tackling child abuse, child labour and other forms of violence against children in the society, it would go a long way in promoting peace, unity and societal development’’

He described education as the best instrument to fight poverty, other societal vices and a lasting legacy to give a child hence the need for parents and guardians to give topmost priority to the education of their children.

The Speaker reiterated the state assembly’s commitment to support any government children policies and programmes as well as make laws that would protect the right of children and better their lots in the society.