Yobe State Government has unveiled plans to set up a Child Protection Commission to deal with abuse circumstances and improve the welfare of youngsters within the state.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Abubakar Bukar Kagu, disclosed this on Sunday, saying the proposed commission will function a specialised establishment for addressing child-related violations and guaranteeing justice for victims.
According to Kagu, the thought emerged after engagements with key justice sector stakeholders, together with the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, the Law Officers Association, and different civil society teams, who raised issues over gaps in child protection mechanisms within the state.
“Years of insurgency have compounded these social challenges, especially for children. Hence, it is about time for a new, comprehensive and more robust framework for their protection”, he stated.
He famous that the present construction, which depends on a single desk officer and some committees, is grossly insufficient to deal with the rising circumstances of child abuse and neglect, particularly within the aftermath of years of insurgency that left many youngsters weak.
Kagu stated the Ministry of Justice has been mandated to draft a proposal for the creation of the commission for consideration by Governor Mai Mala Buni.
“Our intent is to bring on board a new quasi-judicial architecture with powers to receive complaints, summon persons, investigate issues/reports, hold inquiries, refer cases for prosecution, and make recommendations to relevant bodies, including the State Assembly”, Kagu stated.
He added that it’ll even have its personal price range and personnel to allow it to function successfully with full deal with child welfare points.
The Attorney-General burdened that the federal government is decided to make sure that violators of youngsters’s rights face the total weight of the regulation.
He recalled that Governor Buni had earlier assented to the Yobe State Child Protection Law 2022 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2022, which give the authorized framework for safeguarding youngsters and different weak teams.
The proposed commission, he added, will construct on present legal guidelines to present a stronger institutional response to child protection challenges in Yobe.
