Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state has signed the child rights protection bill into law. He also signed a bill on Prohibiting Violence Against Individuals and the Law for the Protection of Child Rights (Child Right Protection Law).
Speaking after signing the Bills, the governor said that the action would further demonstrate to the International Community the commitment of Kebbi to effectively apply the law against gender violence and strengthen the protection of children.
“These laws will also strengthen child protection, although some of our laws already provided for that. This is to strengthen them and draw attention to the need to do more,” he noted. The governor thanked the Kebbi House of Assembly for its hard work and determination to pass the bills in agreement with the cultural and religious values of the people of the state. He equally appreciated religious leaders and traditional rulers for reviewing the law to ensure conformity with religious stipulations.
Bagudu expressed appreciation to development partners and other groups for their support to the government which facilitated the actualization of the law and its application. Also, the governor expressed gratitude to his wife, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu for her immense backing as well as for initiating and facilitating awareness and formulation of the law against gender violence and protection of children’s rights and privileges.
Kebbi is the 30th state in Nigeria to sign the child protection bill into law.
Ada Peter
