NEWS
SCI Seeks Urgent Action to Address Child Marriages in Nigeria
…. Child Marriages in Nigeria
Save the Children International( SCI) has called on the Federal Government to holistically address child marriages as reports revealed that there are 23 million child-brides in Nigeria.
The report titled “Budgeting to End Child Marriage in Nigeria’ was launched by the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye at a Girls led conference organised by SCI in Abuja.
The SCI report showed that Northern Nigeria, recorded the highest number of child-brides, as 48 per cent of women are married before age 15, while 78 per cent are married before age 18,.
The report also showed that adequate funding is required at all levels of government to effectively and sustainably curb the menace that endangers the future of the girl-child.
The report also revealed that child marriage is both a cause and consequence of adolescent pregnancy and is linked to maternal mortality, poor education, ongoing exposure to gender based violence, illiteracy and intergenerational poverty, and this threatens girls right and gender equality.
“With a population of more than 218 million people, Nigeria is home to 23 million child brides, with two in every five women married as children.”
The report called on the government to upscale funding to protect the girl-child, ensuring they remained unmarried and are in school, and also build more classrooms and schools to accommodate more girls, hence the need to increase the budget to end child marriage.
It also called for the need to establish technical working groups to end child marriage; Put together advocacy groups to keep track of financial releases and allocations at the State level.
It also called for the implementation of the Nigerian Government’s Generation Equally commitments with a strong focus on child marriage and reform to enable more effective budget allocation.
The Women Affairs called for a collaborative effort towards addressing the plight of the girl-child in Nigeria and empower them with girls to be self reliant.
UKennedy-Ohanenye said that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, approved the establishment of mobile court to trial child abusers based on the Child Rights Act, CRA, in all the States.
She added that children would be well protected as there would be the prosecution of offenders including parents who a support abuses, violation of children’s rights among others.
She also called on States to work with the Federal Government to curb the menace of child marriage.
The minister said that She said there is need for young girls to learn skills so as not to depend on others.
“On our part, we will continue to support women and girls. We will champion various advocacies to put an end to these challenges.
“We are working closely with other stakeholders to ensure success in that area,this is the time for action and less talk; I urge teachers to be close to their students so as to know their challenges.”
The Interim Country Director, SCI, Nigeria, Faton Krasniqi, said that it was important to budget child rights agenda to protect children’s future and their rights.
Represented by the Director of Advocacy, Campaigns, Communication and Media, Amanuel Mamo, Krasniqi said that child marriage erodes and dries the future of girls, their dreams and hope in life.
“One of the girls who unfortunately end up in early, child and forced marriage could possibly be someone who invents and have a solution for some of the major challenges that the world is facing today.
“There are some bold measures that the Federal and State governments have taken to advance child rights in Nigeria. The National Strategy to End Child Marriage (2016-21)is among the major tools that the Federal
Ministry of Women Affairs has been championing.
“The creation of National Technical Working Group on Ending Child Marriage also brought coalition of stakeholders from the government, CSOs and INGOs with an intention to drive the implementation the strategy.”
Krasniqi said that existing laws, strategies and plans could only be fulfilled if it was budgeted for ,adding that the findings of the research called for the need to allocate adequate financial resources to tackle the underlying causes of child marriage.
He added that the study identified bottlenecks and provides recommendations on what should be addressed to accelerate the fight against early, child and forced marriage.
Also speaking , Miss Shamiga Rita, a Girl Champion of SCI Nigeria from Benue called for intervention to safeguard the future of the girl-child against child marriage.
“The issue of child marriage is very worrisome and challenging because it cuts the girls’ lives short and hinders them from achieving their dreams and aspirations including full potential.
“Government need to implement the child rights law, and we need actions, budgeting and planning should be children inclusive.
“We also need sensitization, and we also advocate for child’s right, and parents need sensitization. We want change, and if the girl-child is denied her right how can we have this change?”, Rita who was a one-day governor of Benue said.
Contributing, the Katsina State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zainab Musa, who represented the First Lady of Katsina,Hajiya Zulaihat Radda said the challenge of child marriage was worrisome .
“Our plan of action is to take back budgeting proposal as shown by SCI Nigeria and ensure it is practised in order to end child marriage in the state.”(NAN)
Niger Government has established the state Price Control and Monitoring Board, approved by Gov. Umaru Bago to ensure fair pricing and consumer protection.
Alh. Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the Niger Government (SSG), inaugurated members of the board on Thursday in Minna.
The eight-member board has Alh.
Hussaini Ahmed, a former Permanent Secretary as the chairman.Usman noted that the inauguration of the board marked a significant step in the state’s commitment to ensuring fair pricing and consumer protection.
He said that the board was expected to control and stabilise prices of essential commodities and eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum, hoarding of essential commodities across the state.
He said that board would also handle issues that may arise as a result of enforcement and penalty for contravention of guidelines among several others.
“The board will be responsible for the distribution, monitoring and evaluation of essential commodities and keep price under continuous surveillance.
“They will also interpret price movement and relate them to other development in the State’s economy,” Usman said.
He said the board was expected to interface with relevant stakeholders such as local government chairmen, traditional institutions and councilors and well as market organisations to ensure the success of their mandate.
The SSG enjoined members of board to bring their wealth of experience and expertise in economics, consumer affairs and market dynamics to bear in their assignment.
He said that their appointment underscored the government’s dedication to maintaining economic stability and safeguarding the interests of both consumers and businesses in the state.
In his remarks, the board chairman, Ahmed, assured that the board would interface with relevant stakeholders within and outside the state in order to bring succour to the populace.
Other members of the board include Hamza Bello, Permanent Secretary, Investment, Aliyu Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Garba Abdullahi, from Ministry of Basic Education.
Also on the board are Adamu Maikasuwa, Ministry of Agriculture, DCP Aminu Garba, Nigeria Police, Niger Command, Aminu Ladan, Chairman, Chanchaga Local Government Area and Usman Liman, retired Statistician-General as Secretary of the Board. (NAN)
The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), has shared N1.298 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and the Local Government Councils (LGCs) for September.
This is according to a communique issued at the end of FAAC meeting for October held on Thursday in Abuja.
The communiqué was made available to newsmen by Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAGF).
According to the communiqué, N1.
298 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N124.716 billion, and distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N543.518 billion.It also comprised Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N18.
445 billion, Exchange Difference revenue of N462.191 billion and Augmentation of N150.000 billion.It said that a total revenue of N2.258 trillion was available in the month of September.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N80.993 billion, while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N878.946 billion,” it said.
According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.043 trillion was received in September 2024, which was lower than the sum of N1.221 trillion received in August by N177.426 billion.
It said that gross revenue of N583.675 billion was available from VAT in September, higher than the N573.341 billion available in the month of August by N10.334 billion.
“From the N1.298 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N424.867 billion, and the state governments received a total sum of N453.724 billion.
“The LGCs received a total sum of N329.864 billion and a total sum of N90.415 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue,” it said.
On the N124.716 billion statutory revenue, the communiqué said that the Federal Government received N43.037 billion and the state governments received N21.829 billion, while the LGCs received N16.829 billion.
It said that the sum of N43.021 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.
“From the N543.518 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N81.528 billion, the state governments received N271.759 billion and the LGCs received N190.231 billion,” it said.
It said that in September, Oil and Gas Royalty, Excise Duty, EMTL and CET Levies increased considerably while VAT and Import Duty increased marginally.
It added that Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT) and others recorded significant decreases. (NAN)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has reiterated the importance of strict adherence to traffic laws, emphasising the prohibition of commercial motorcycles on highways and other restricted routes.
Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager, said this in a statement on Thursday, signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.
Bakare-Oki said that non-compliance with the regulations not only jeopardised the safety of the riders but also endangered the lives of other road users.
The statement came following the death of a motorcycle rider going against traffic on Carter Bridge, due to a collision with a fast-moving vehicle.
Bakare-Oki noted that the deceased, reportedly traveling from Ebute Ero, collided head-on with a fast-moving vehicle as it ascended Carter Bridge from Ilubirin.
“The forceful impact of the collision led to the immediate death of the motorcyclist while the vehicle driver ran away.
“Personnel from the LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene of the accident and swiftly alerted officers from the Central Police Station at Adeniji Adele and Shemo.
“Together, they coordinated efforts to retrieve the lifeless body of the rider, while LASTMA officials handed over the motorcycle to security authorities for further investigation,” he said.
The LASTMA boss extended his heartfelt sympathy to the family of the deceased.
“LASTMA remains committed to upholding public safety and is intensifying its efforts to minimise the occurrence of such tragic incidents on Lagos roads,” he said. (NAN)
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