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ABSTRACT
Children make up about 43 per cent of Nigeria’s population, and it has been pointed out that they are often described as the precious products of divine providence. Unfortunately they are subjected to all forms of abuse and neglect, such as child prostitution, trafficking and forced labour, and therefore need serious protection in society. The Child Rights Act of 2003 was passed more than a decade ago to solve this problem. Unfortunately, most Nigerian children are still not enjoying some or all of the benefits of the Act. This article therefore seeks to examine the challenges still surrounding the domestication and implementation of its key provisions, mainly in Northern states, but also in other states where it is already domesticated, but not fully implemented. The article employs doctrinal and content analysis of relevant literature, and recommends massive sensitisation, awareness creation, and effective adaptation of the law by every Nigerian state.
Notes
1 Nigeria Demographics Profile 2019 <https://www.indexmundi.com/nigeria/demographics_profile.htmll> accessed 21 April 2020.
2 TU Onyemachi, ‘Children, Status and the Law in Nigeria’ (2010) 4(3a) African Research Review: An International Multi-Disciplinary Journal, Ethiopia 382.
3 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999; Sections 33, 53, 36, and 41.
4 International Catholic Child Bureau (BICE), ‘History of Rights of the Child’, 2014, <bice.org> accessed 28 July 2020.
5 UNICEF, ‘History of the Child Rights’ <https://www.unicef.org> accessed 28 July 2020.
6 African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), Ratifications Table, 2020 <https://www.acerwc.africa> accessed 3 August 2020.
7 EA Ekundayo, ‘Cultural Threats to the Education of the African Girl Child’ (2019) Global Media Journal 17:32.
8 WHO, ‘African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child’, 2014 <https://sisternamibiatest2014.files.wordpress.com> accessed 28 July 2020.
9 SB Keetharuth, ‘Major African Legal Instruments’ in A Bosl and J Diescho (eds), Human Rights in Africa: Legal Perspectives on their Protection and Promotion (Namibia: Macmillan Education 2009) <https://www.kas.de> accessed 28 July 2020.
10 WHO, ‘African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child’, 2014 <https://sisternamibiatest2014.files.wordpress.com> accessed 28 July 2020.
11 Abacha v Fawehinmi (2000) 6 NWLR (Pt. 660)228, 229.
12 EM Akpambang, ‘Promoting the Right to a Healthy Environment through Constitutionalism in Nigeria’ (2016) 4(3) International Journal of Environmental and Pollution Research 40–61.
13 MT Ladan, ‘The Child Rights Act, 2003 and the Challenges of Adoption by State Government in the 19 Northern States’ Paper presented at a one-day interactive forum for Sokoto State House of Assembly Legistators, organized by Sokoto State House of Assembly, Sokoto, Nigeria, 23 July 2007.
14 AS Ishola and D Momodu, ‘From Monism and Dualism to Moni-Dualism: A New Approach to Municipal Enforcement of International Human Rights Treaties’, 3rd International Conference on Social Sciences 2017, <https://icss.nileuniversity.edu.ng/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/03/ICSS-2017_POL.pdf> accessed 20 April 2020; M Adigun, ‘The Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Nigeria’ (2019) 3 July Public Law Issue 476–494.
15 ES Nwauche, ‘Child Marriage in Nigeria: (II) Legal and (Un) Constitutional?’ 2015 (15) African Human Rights Journal 422; Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Ors v. Attorney General of the Federation (2002)4 SC(Part 1); (NO 2) (2002)6 NWLR (Part 764)542.
16 D Ogunniyi, ‘Challenges of Domesticating Children’s Rights Treaties in Nigeria and Alternative Legal avenues for Protecting Children’ (2018) 62(3) Journal of African Law 447–470.
17 Section 12(2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution provides that; (2) the National Assembly may make laws for the Federation or any part thereof with respect to matters not included in the Exclusive Legislative List for the purpose of implementing a treaty. Section 12(3) provides that a bill for an act of the National Assembly passed pursuant to the provisions of subsection
18 United Nations Treaty Collection <https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&mtdsg_no=IV-11&chapter=4&clang=_en> accessed 19 April 2020.
19 Attorney General of Ondo State v Attorney General of the Federation (2002)9 NWLR (Pt. 772)222, (2002)6 SC (Pt 1)1.
20 Adigun (n 14) 330.
21 Awolowo v Federal Minister of Internal Affairs (1962) LLR177.
22 Adigun (n 14) 331.
23 W Cornish and D Llewlyn, Intellectual Property; Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks and Allied Rights (6th edn Sweet & Maxwell, London 2007) 20.
24 ‘Examining the Similarities and Differences between the ACRWC and the CRC’ (2015) (5) 7(1) International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 148.
25 ES Nwauche, ‘Child Marriage in Nigeria: (II) Legal and (Un) Constitutional?’ (2015) 15 African Human Rights Journal 422, 423; Ogunniyi (n 16).
26 Ogunniyi (n 16).
27 EO Ezike, Nigerian Contract Law (Chenglo Limited, Enugu 2015) 120–121.
28 Madukolu v Nkemdili (1962) 2 SCNLR 341.
29 Mohammed v C.O.P. (1987) 4 NWLR (Pt. 65)420.
30 Pulse news 2019, ‘Enugu State Government Designates 12 Courts for Juvenile Cases’, <https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/enugu-state-government-designates-12-courts-for-juvenile-cases/jplm91f> accessed 19 April 2020.
31 FD Nzarga, ‘Impediments to the Domestication of Nigeria Child Rights Act by the States’ (2016) 19 Journal of Culture, Society and Development.
32 L Bomu and N Akani, ‘Protection of the Rights of Children in Nigeria a Comparative Analysis’ (2019) 10(1) The Journal of Property Law and Contemporary Issues 1.
33 MK Imam-Tamim and others, ‘Child Rights in Nigeria: Exploring the Contentions between the Child Rights Act 2003, Cultural Practices and Islamic Rules’ (2015) 1 Al-Hikmah Law Journal 30.
34 ‘Nigeria: Sharia Council Kicks against Child Rights Act’ <https://allafrica.com/stories/200508230090.html> accessed 23 April 2020.
35 Nzarga (n 31); Bomu and Akani (n 32).
36 Williams v Williams (1987) 2 NWLR 66.
37 Williams v Majekodunmi (1962) 1 All NLR 413.
38 IP Enemo, Basic Principles of Family Law in Nigeria (Spectrum Books Ltd, Ibadan 2007).
39 Nzarga (n 35); HT Ajibo and others, ‘Child Rights Act Domestication and Daunting Problem of Child Labour and Trafficking in Nigeria: A Nexus’ (2015) Inaugural Conference Proceedings 217–228.
40 A Umar, ‘An Attempt to reconcile the Conflict Between the Child’s Right Act 2003 and Islamic Law on the Right of Religion and Discrimination’ <www.academia.edu> accessed 7 August 2020.
41 Nnamuchi Obiajulu, ‘Kleptocracy and its Many Faces: The Challenges of the Justiciability of the Right to Healthcare in Nigeria’ (2008) 52(1) Journal of African Law 1–42.
42 Ogugu v. State (1994) 9 NWLR (pt 366) 1.
43 Obiajulu (n 41).
44 Jonah Gbemre v Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Ltd and Ors, Unreported Suit No. FHC/B/CS/53/2005. See also (2005) AHRLR 151, per Nwokorie, J. Decided on 14 November 2005, Federal High Court, Benin-City Judicial Division, in Akpambang (n 12).
45 Musa v State (1993) 2 NWLR (Pt. 277)500.
46 (See INEC & anor v Musa & Ors. (2003) 1 SC (Pt. 1)67); and Federal Republic of Nigeria v Anache & ors (2004)14 NWLR (Pt. 1–90)).
47 Controversy in Nigeria over Minimum Age of Marriage, July 26, 2013. <https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/controversy-in-nigeria-over-minimum-age-of-marriage/> accessed 29 April 2020.
48 B Nwabueze, Constitutional Law of the Nigerian Republic (1964) Butterworths at 408.
49 The World Bank: Living Standards Measurement Study. Nigeria releases new report on poverty and inequality in country, 2020, <www.worldbank.org> accessed 18 February 2021.
50 Akinreti v Jenyo (1986)2 NWLR (Pt 22) 305, the parents of a five year old deceased girl sued as administrators of the deceased girl and claimed the sum N200,000.00 damages as dependents under the Fatal Accident Act.
51 T Sobowale, ‘We Can’t Chase Street Traders Off the Street Without Alternative — Makinde’, 2019, <https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/12/icymi-we-cant-chase-street-traders-off-the-street-without-alternative-%E2%80%95-makinde/> accessed 30 April 2020.
52 Sobowale (n 51).
53 Bomu and Akani (n 32).
54 Imam-Tamim and others (n 33).
55 Nzarga (n 35).
56 Duhaime‘s Law Dictionary, <www.duhaime.org/legaldictionary/g/GeneraliaSpecialibusNonDerogant.aspx>; R v Greenwood (1992) 7 O.R (3d) 1.
57 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): An International Agreement for Child Rights <https://www.savethechildren.org.uk> accessed 28 July 2020.