Senate Urges Federal Government to Issue Girl-Child Protection Emergency Proclamation.

A state of emergency on the protection and welfare of the girl-child has been requested by the Senate to address the educational, health, and safety requirements of girls nationwide.

As part of its efforts to end harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation, the upper chamber emphasised the need for state governments to domesticate and enforce laws like as the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.

The necessity for immediate action by the federal government to alleviate the situation of Nigerian girls and secure their futures was the impetus for these resolutions, which were introduced by Senator Ireti Kingibe.

Ireti voiced her concern about the worrisome numbers of girl-child marriage in the northern zones of Nigeria, but stressed that the practice is widespread across the country. She brings up the fact that the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) found that more than 44% of girls are married before the age of 18, with areas like Zamfara, Bauchi, and Sokoto having particularly high rates.

Several senators voiced their approval of the measure just two days before October 11—the annual International Day of the Girl Child.