Child Protection Bill: Important task before Kaduna Assembly this October
As Kaduna State Assembly resumes from recess this October, one of the important task before it is passage into law the bill that will protect Kaduna children against domestic violence including trafficking, abuse, rape, torture among other vices.
That Bill has been hanging in Kaduna state Assembly since 2003 without getting any serious attention until the coming on board of Governor Nasir El-Rufai who is personally interested in protecting thechildren in the state and then dust up the bill in 2016 which has now scaled through the first and second reading.
But the critical stakeholders are wondering what could be causing its passage since it has passed through first, second and even public hearing.
Gobroadsheet reports that, Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Hajia Hafsat Mohammed Baba is among the stakeholders who hoped that the state Assembly will put the love of children in the state into consideration for speedy passage of the bill.
And of course, interest groups include but not limited to League of Professional Journalists (LEPOJ) and Development Communications (DEVCOMS) Network have been in the forefront, calling on the assembly to fast track the domestication of the all important bill before it.
It is furtherance if this, some members of LEPOJ, met with the House Committee Chairman on Information, Kaduna State Assembly, Nuhu Shafalafiya over the weekend to know what is causing delay in the passage if the bill almost two years.
Hee raised the hope that the bill will get first hand attention once the house resumes this October if all things equal.
To him, the delay in passing the bill into law was not intentional hinging it on some conflicting issues that needed to be thoroughly dealt with before allowing it to become law.
“This bill is dear to the heart of the governor and also the heart of the members of the assembly. So we don’t want to make mistakes. There are some many conflicting issues therein that we thought must be very scrutinized in the interest of the state.
“For example, you have to consider our norms, our religion, our tradition and our culture and you don’t do a law that people will not obey.
“So what we are doing is a thorough job so that when we come out with the bill, it will be presentable and acceptable by all”, explained the lawmaker.
He further added that, the bill is currently before the committee which is already working on it, “just like other bills that are with the committees, like the SIECOM Bill, Local Government Reforms Bill, the School Management Bill, they are all with the committees”.
With this assurance from the lawmakers, people of the state are looking up to favourable and timely passage of this important bill before this administration tenure elapse in 2019.
POSTED BY EDITOR 19-09-2017