Jigawa: Gov Badaru signs controversial Child Protection Bill into law

Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State has on Wednesday signed the long-awaited controversial Child Protection Bill into law.

He said the bill is aimed at the protection of the fundamental human rights of the child in the state.

The Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Member representing Hadejia Constituency, Hon. Abubakar Sadiq Jallo, said before the passage of the bill, stakeholders including religious leaders had a series of delibrations to ensure that the law did not contradict the religion and culture of the people of the state.

He explained that the new law proscribed the death penalty for sexual offenders on children below the ages of 10 without the option of life imprisonment or any alternate punishment.

“The law has also criminalized traditional marks for children and anybody found guilty will attract community service or five thousand Naira fine as punishment.

“Every child has a right to parental protection. Accordingly, no child shall be separated from his parents except for the purpose of his education.

“A child shall not be subjected to any form of discrimination merely by reason of his belonging to a particular community or by reason of his place of origin, sex, religion or political party.

“Every child is entitled to respect as a person and accordingly no child shall be subject to physical, mental or emotional abuse, neglect, or maltreatment including sexual abuse,” he said.

DAILY POST reports that the controversial Child Protection Bill had suffered a setback in the Jigawa State House of Assembly after the members suspended the House Committee on Justice and Judiciary from presenting its report.

The bill generated a lot of controversy in the state when it was passed by the Federal Government and ordered states to do the same due to its ill-match with the culture and religion of most people of the states.