Birnin kebbi: UNICEF has appealed to the Kebbi House of Assembly to set up a committee on the Child Protection Act to facilitate the inclusion of an allowance for children in the state. The UNICEF's Chief of Field Office, in-charge of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, Mr. Micheal Juma, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the House in Birnin Kebbi.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Juma emphasized UNICEF's focus on advancing the Child Rights Act. He noted the pending Child Protection Act in the state, which was supposed to have been forwarded to the Executive for approval. Juma urged the Assembly and the Executive to endorse the Child Protection Act to become law for the benefit of children in Kebbi.
Discussing the Child Benefit Allowance, Juma highlighted its potential to enhance inclusive social development for children in impoverished local government areas. He emphasized the need for support to help children access essential services such as education, healthcare, sanitation, nutrition, and safe drinking water.
Juma also addressed the Social Protection Act, pointing out the high level of multidimensional poverty in Kebbi compared to other states in Nigeria. He assured that UNICEF would assist the state in providing social protection development for the most deprived women and children.
In response, the Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Muhammad Usman-Zuru, expressed appreciation for UNICEF's interventions in the state's social and economic sectors. He reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to supporting UNICEF's objectives and indicated plans to discuss the possibility of establishing a committee for the Child Benefit Allowance.
Usman-Zuru also assured that the Assembly is actively working on the Child Rights Act and intends to forward the bill to the executive for thorough deliberation.