Asma’u Mohammed Iganus, Gombe State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Women Affairs and Social Development, has expressed deep concern over the absence of some major stakeholders during a public hearing that is aimed at facilitating the passage of the Child Right Act into law.
Worried by the development and also absolving the House of dragging its feet on the domestication and passage of the law in the State during the public hearing, the Chairman rolled out the list of all the invited groups and individuals who acknowledge receipt of the invitation but did not turned up.
Asma’u however listed, Jama’atil Nasrl Islam (JNI), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), the Women wing of CAN, some prominent Islamic clerics in the State among other critical stakeholders who were absent during the hearing.
The majority of the expected stakeholders, over 70 percent, were reported to be absent from the public hearing.
and views so that it will bring out the popular voice of the people of the State on the bill.
He also advised the CSOs to make adequate sensitization of the public on what the bill is all about.
Gombe is among the States listed with a high number of violence against children, especially rape. It also has many out-of-school children or children that were never sent to schools, especially the girl child.
It is also among States that record a high number of early girl marriages as well as child labour among other associated child abuses which are attributed to poverty and certain sociocultural practices.
This is even as most of its neighbours, Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa have domesticated and passed the child rights act.
