Katsina State House of Assembly has been asked to pass the Child Protection bill into law, by the Children’s Parliament in the state.

The call, which was made public by the speaker of the Children’s parliament, Mater Mubarak Lawan Yantaba, also advocated for the enactment of another law that will make girl-child education mandatory and avert early marriage in the state.

THISDAY, however, has reported that the Child’s Rights Act (CRA) was enacted in 2003 at the federal level to serve as the legal document and protection of child rights and responsibilities in Nigeria.

Yantaba, while in audience with the state Assembly Speaker, Tasi’u Zango, said the bill, if signed into law, would hold government and parents accountable on the issues of child molestation and girls’ education, the reports said.

He explained that the bill, when passed, would ensure that the interest and rights of the Nigerian child are properly taken care of, as “a protected child serves as the pillar for a prosperous society”.

According to him, “A protected child is a confident child. A protected child is the joy and pride of every society. The Assembly should also enact a law that would ensure retention of children to complete secondary school with special focus on the girl-child.

“The Assembly should also create a house committee on children affairs to either stand alone or merge with another committee where children related and sensitive issues would take centre stage,” he said.

The reports said that he reaffirmed that for the society to make informed choices and decisions regarding health and other life issues “there is the need for proper legislation to guide all gender and adolescent rights issues”.

According to the reports, Yantaba, however, called for the involvement of religious and traditional leaders in the fight against drug abuse in the state, saying people with a history of drug abuse should not be allowed to pilot the affairs of the society.

The Speaker, represented by the member representing Kafur constituency, Garba Dankanjiba, said the Assembly was aware of the issue and vowed to address it soon.