Nigeria: 'Child Right Not Against Islam'

Minna, Nigeria - The commissioner of justice and attorney general of Niger State, Barr. Usman Adamu, has said that the child law passed by the state House of Assembly and asserted to by the governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, protects both the parents and the child, saying that the law did not compromise the provisions of Islamic law

The Attorney General who spoke on the state's radio contact programme explained that the child law passed was to protect the child against all forms of abuse, and also position the parents to know their rights on their children.

He explained further that in the law there is provision that when the law intercede with the provision of Islamic law, the Islamic law would be given precedence assuring that the child law did not compromise any provision of Islamic Law.

Barr. Adamu disclosed that the state will soon set up a family court to treat cases that involve the contraventions of the provision of the child right law.

The Attorney disclosed that the committee being set up for the implementation of the child right law, will embark on extensive public education and workshops to sensitise the public before the full implementation of the law, saying that the law was passed since 2003, by the National Assembly and so it's not a new law, but a concurrent law for children's right.

Meanwhile the governor has set up the child right law implementation Committee. The committee is headed by Princess Rachel Yisa, with 24 members and the permanent secretary ministry of justice, Barr. Ndagi Wali, will serve as the secretary.

Inaugurating the 25 man committee, the governor approved the immediate release of N25millon for the committee to enable them commence work.

It will be recalled that since 2003, when the National Assembly passed the child right Act, most of the states in northern Nigeria have received the new law with mixed feelings, saying that some of the provisions undermine the provision of the Islamic law.