The Federal Government has called on States to set up family courts to try child offenders, prosecuting them in accordance with the child Rights Act of Nigeria. The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Jummai Allhassan made this disclosure on Friday in Abuja in a press briefing and inauguration of the 6th National Children’s Parliament (NCP), marking the 2018 National Children’s Day Celebration coming up on the 25th May, 2018.

The Children’s parliament which had been sitting since Wednesday had their election on Thursday electing officials for the next tenure of office. The Minister observed that children are inevitable assets to any nation, therefore as future leaders of any society and nation are the focal point of a country’s development index, revealing that the Ministry in collaboration with other stakeholders developed policies and executed series of programs to ensure the safety and protection of children.

Senator Alhassan said: “In order to ensure effective advocacy and implementation of the child Rights Act in Nigeria, a national child Rights multi- sectored Implementation Committee was set up; it was in moribund for sometimes, but I am glad to inform you today that it has been resuscitated by this administration, an affirmation of its commitment to protect the rights and welfare of the Nigeria child.

“I wish to use this opportunity to call on State that has domesticated the Child Rights in their states to also resuscitate their states Child Rights Implementation committees. I urge those states to also set up family courts to try child offenders and where possible, use alternative dispute resolution system in handling child cases”.