Ebonyi children’s parliament tackle govt on state of libraries, laboratories in public schools

The children’s parliament of Ebonyi Central senatorial zone has held a special sitting calling on government to urgently rehabilitate and revamp public schools’ libraries and laboratories in the area.

 

The sitting was held Saturday at the Ezza North legislative Council chamber, Ebiaji, Ebonyi State.

 

It was facilitated by a civil society organization, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Centre with support from the Saint Patrick’s Missionary Society.

 

The young parliamentarians in their deliberations bordering on some social, economic and political issues affecting children, upheld the importance of quality education, healthcare and respect for rights of children in achieving a better society.

 

They observed that the lack of well equipped laboratories and libraries in most public schools have continued to impede practical learning and research in the area thereby limiting children’s potentials.

 

In a seventeen point communique read out by the Speaker of the parliament, Miss Goodness Nwafor, the parliament warned that the lack of basic infrastructure, social amenities and poor security in schools predispose children to cultism and other social vices.

 

Other resolutions contained in the communique centered on improved healthcare, elimination of child abuse, labour and trafficking as well as issues around child/forced marriage.

 

It urged government to build more child specialist and child friendly hospitals and health centres, boost security around health facilities to eliminate theft as well as intensify drug surveillance to eradicate fake and sub standard drugs as a means of reducing the high rate of child mortality in the area.

 

The communique added: “That all well meaning Nigerians, including local government leaders should contribute to the welfare and safety of children.

 

“Government should improve securities especially around borders to fish out traffickers and recover trafficked children.

 

“There should be more sensitization to make parents aware of the illegality of child marriage while laws against child/forced marriage should be invoked to punish any parent who compels his/her child into such marriage.

 

The parliament further urged the government at all levels to work towards improving the economy to reduce hardship which often forces parents to give out their children to early and forced marriages.

 

Speaking to newsmen, the Executive Director of HRCRC, George Etamesor, expressed hope that the sitting of the children’s parliament would be sustained.

 

“We are a CSO, and we are hoping that this initiative will be sustainable; that peradventure we are unable to continue from this line, the government from the local level especially, up to the state and national will see this as worthwhile and take hold of it and make it happen, at least once a quarter.”

 

Etamesor maintained that giving children such opportunities to talk about their issues themselves will help them contribute to governance and grow up into responsible adults in society.

 

The Chaperon, children’s parliament, Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Gift Ndukwe, commended the anchor Organization, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Centre for reawakening the parliament.

 

Ndukwe, who represented the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Barr. Felicia Nwamkpuma, urged the parliamentarians to keep the flag flying.

 

Welcoming the parliamentarians, the wife of the Chairman, Ezza North LGA, Mrs Elizabeth Ogodoali Nome assured that the outcome of their sitting would be communicated to appropriate quarters.