FCT CJ decries poor implementation of Child Rights Act

Justice Ishaq Bello, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), on Thursday in Abuja, decried the poor
implementation of the Child Rights Act 2003 in Nigeria.

He stated this at the Public Presentation of two books titled:
“Child Rights Act (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2015 with
Annotations and “International Law and Child Labour in Developing
Countries.”

The Book Presentation was organised by the Nobles Society for
Human Rights and Development Advocacy (NOSHRIDA).

Bello, represented by his Special Adviser, Mr Enenche Eleojo,
said that in July, 2015 he signed the Child Rights Act (Enforcement
Procedure) Rules, 2015 to regulate and prescribe procedures to be
followed in family courts.

He added that section 149 of the Act allows for the
establishment of a “Family Court in each state of the Federation
and Abuja for the hearing and determining matters relating to
children.

“We have court designated as Family Courts both at the High
Court and Magistrate Court levels in the FCT.

“And the rules we are celebrating today is to regulate the
practice procedure of the court on Child’s Rights Enforcement.

“There are also child development officers and child welfare
secretariats in the FCT to help the court in its work.

“However, we are not yet there. We still have shortfalls; we
need family courts of international standards.

“We need Borstal Homes and other institutional frameworks to
achieve the desired excellent implementation of the Child’s Right
Act,” the CJ added.

According to him, the level of utilisation of the Child Rights
Act (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2015 to meet its ultimate target
is still at its very minimal level.

Bello attributed the minimal utilisation of the rule to low
level of the knowledge of its existence.

The Chief Judge commended Henry Akuchie and Armstrong Ukwuoma,
authors of the book for creating awareness on the enforcement
procedure of the act.

According to the CJ, the expectation is that the knowledge and
usage of the rules will increase not only among the Bar and Bench,
but also among the relevant institutions of government.

“Children have always been an important part of our society.

“Creating a special and dedicated system of justice
administration for them was born out of understanding that they are
relatively different from adults,” he added.

The CJ stressed that children need special care and protection
against the harshness of the normal court process.

Mr Abraham Yisa, Chairman of the event said that the book
emphasizes on the rights of children, stating that the authors have
taken a noble cause to ensure that the Nigerian child is
protected.

According to Yisa, the book was written to explain and
popularise the rules engaged in the promotion, protection and
enforcement of the rights of children.

He noted that the future is bleak if the rights of the children
are not protected in the country.

Dr Jaja Tonye, Senior Research Fellow, National Institute for
Legislative Studies (NILS), who reviewed the book, said the book
was detailed and easy to assimilate.

He added that the book had simplified the procedures to justice,
clearly outlining the proceedings of the court for enforcing the
child right Act.

Justice Ishaq Bello, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), on Thursday in Abuja, decried the poor
implementation of the Child Rights Act 2003 in Nigeria.

He stated this at the Public Presentation of two books titled:
“Child Rights Act (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2015 with
Annotations and “International Law and Child Labour in Developing
Countries.”

The Book Presentation was organised by the Nobles Society for
Human Rights and Development Advocacy (NOSHRIDA).

Bello, represented by his Special Adviser, Mr Enenche Eleojo,
said that in July, 2015 he signed the Child Rights Act (Enforcement
Procedure) Rules, 2015 to regulate and prescribe procedures to be
followed in family courts.

He added that section 149 of the Act allows for the
establishment of a “Family Court in each state of the Federation
and Abuja for the hearing and determining matters relating to
children.

“We have court designated as Family Courts both at the High
Court and Magistrate Court levels in the FCT.

“And the rules we are celebrating today is to regulate the
practice procedure of the court on Child’s Rights Enforcement.

“There are also child development officers and child welfare
secretariats in the FCT to help the court in its work.

“However, we are not yet there. We still have shortfalls; we
need family courts of international standards.

“We need Borstal Homes and other institutional frameworks to
achieve the desired excellent implementation of the Child’s Right
Act,” the CJ added.

According to him, the level of utilisation of the Child Rights
Act (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2015 to meet its ultimate target
is still at its very minimal level.

Bello attributed the minimal utilisation of the rule to low
level of the knowledge of its existence.

The Chief Judge commended Henry Akuchie and Armstrong Ukwuoma,
authors of the book for creating awareness on the enforcement
procedure of the act.

According to the CJ, the expectation is that the knowledge and
usage of the rules will increase not only among the Bar and Bench,
but also among the relevant institutions of government.

“Children have always been an important part of our society.

“Creating a special and dedicated system of justice
administration for them was born out of understanding that they are
relatively different from adults,” he added.

The CJ stressed that children need special care and protection
against the harshness of the normal court process.

Mr Abraham Yisa, Chairman of the event said that the book
emphasizes on the rights of children, stating that the authors have
taken a noble cause to ensure that the Nigerian child is
protected.

According to Yisa, the book was written to explain and
popularise the rules engaged in the promotion, protection and
enforcement of the rights of children.

He noted that the future is bleak if the rights of the children
are not protected in the country.

Dr Jaja Tonye, Senior Research Fellow, National Institute for
Legislative Studies (NILS), who reviewed the book, said the book
was detailed and easy to assimilate.

He added that the book had simplified the procedures to justice,
clearly outlining the proceedings of the court for enforcing the
child right Act.