Zamfara State Governor Bello Mohammed Matawallen had expressed his administration’s readiness to ending all forms of child abuse and trafficking in the State through engagement effective engagement with Islamic scholars and Traditional leaders.
The Governor made this known during a one day public hearing on the need to Eradicate child destitution and child trafficking through provision of standardized Education System which held at National Assembly complex, Abuja
The Governor who was represented at the Public Hearing by the Commissioner of Women, Children and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Lawal Gummi said, Zamfara State Government is fully committed to ending all forms of child abuse including child labour, destitution and trafficking through legitimate engagement with critical actors.
He poined that, to achieve this traditional rulers and religious leaders will constantly be engaged in order to enlighten people and also help in enforcing statutory laws to that effect.
He said that a committee has already been set-up by the State Government on gender based violence and that of child destitution will soon be inaugurated.
The Governor further stated that a bill on the Child Right Act is before the State House of Assembly and has passed through first reading which he said when enacted will make education compulsory to all children of school age in the State.
Matawalle also called the attention of the law makers on the need for increase federal government social intervention to the state considering the number of orphans raised in the state as a result of years of armed bandits activities
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He explained that his administration has created many social intervention programmes with the sole aim of reducing hardship and poverty amongst many families.
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila declared the public hearing open recalling that the Child Rights Act was assented into law by President Olusegun Obasanjo 17 years ago in 2003 but that many states are yet to enact the law that will protect children rights in their states.
Those who accompanied the Commissioner for women affairs at the public hearing include the State Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr.Bashir Muhammad Maru, Commissioner of Special Duties, Honourable Muhammad Maiturare Sadiq, Principal Private Secretary to the Governor Lawal Umar Maradun and Director General Media, Public Enlightenment and Communications, Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau.
