RIGHTS...................Children do have them

It is worthy to educate/enlighten the general public on the rights of every child, enlightenment is superior to enforcement.

The child right Act 2003 made proviso for the right of every child in Nigeria.A child for the purpose of this discussion and under the act is anybody under the age of 18years.

99.9% of parents treats and protect the interest of their child (ren) but what happens to that child that lives with them.

It is no longer news that most average families in Nigeria have a child living with them often referred to as ‘maid’ that helps in house chores and taking care of their own child.

The question now is that are those ‘maids’ children too? Do they have a right protected under the Child Rights Act 2003?

The answer is not far fetched, many custodians are ignorant of the right protected under the child’s right act and these rights are as follows;

(i)                  No Nigerian child shall be subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse or neglect.

(ii)                The dignity of the child shall be respected at all times.

(iii)               Freedom from discrimination on the ground of belonging to a particular community or ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or circumstances of his birth.

(iv)              Making tattoos or mark and female genital mutilation are punishable offences under the act.

(v)                Child trafficking ,abduction and forced exploitative labor are stated to be offences

(vi)              Betrothal and marriage of children are prohibited.

(vii)             Every parent or guardian having legal custody of a child under the age of 2 years shall ensure its immunization against diseases of fake judicial penalties.

Anyone found guilty of any of the above mentioned rights will face judicial penalties because those rights are enforceable.

Am sure some women will say ‘thank God my maid is from Togo, i do not have problem, i am sorry to disappoint you, the definition of who a child is doesn't change from Asia,  Europe, America, Africa   and to those men whose wives have maids you are as liable as your wife as provided in section 340 of the criminal code any husband or wife of an offender who is guilty of endangering the life of servants will equally be guilty and it is also aiding and abetting.

My advise goes to women, if we must have maids lets endeavor to put them in government public schools where we cannot afford a private school for them, this will not only put us on the positive side of law, we’ll be greatly rewarded by God Almighty.

STOP SLAVERY EVERY CHILD DESERVES CHILDHOOD.

Children are the future of every nation, therefore they need to be nurtured and assisted to develop into reproductive adults and how best can these be achieved, by taking up our responsibilities.

Every Nigerian parent/guardian has responsibilities provided for under the child’s Right Act 2003 and it is compulsory they live up to these responsibilities; children are also not left out in these responsibilities. 

Parents responsibilities are; 

CARE; It is the duty of parent or guardian to look after their children, give them the necessary attention needed at all time.

MAINTENANCE; It is the duty of the parents to support their children by paying school fees, feeding, shelter and make sure they are in good health, the responsibility of taking care of the home is not vested on any child ,therefore street trading ,hawking to support the family is contrary to the provision of these Act.

PROPER UPBRINGING: The duty to teach children good values is vested on the parent; they must be properly brought up in order for them to be of good conduct in school, at home and in the society at large.

EDUCATION; Parent must make sure every child is given quality education.

SOCIALIZATION; These is another means of educating children, they must allow them to mix with other children in order for them to learn new things but these must be done with caution (they must socialize with only good children)

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHILDREN

The child must respect his/her parents, elders and superiors at all time and assist them when need arise.

A child must work towards cohesion of his/her family and community.

Every Nigerian child must offer service and contribute to the strengthening of the independence and integrity of Nigeria. 

Every child must contribute to the moral well-being of the society as well as social and national solidarity.

A Nigerian child must respect the ideas of democracy, freedom, equality, humanness, honesty and justice for all persons.

The child must relate with other members of the society, particularly those with different cultural values in the spirit of tolerance, dialogue and consultation.

Every Nigerian child must contribute to the provision and achievement of national, African and world unity and solidarity.

OYENIKE ALLIYU-ADEBIYI LLB (hons) BL