The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Child Rights Act 2004, to impose sanctions on any parent who abandons a new born.
This comes on a day hopes were raised for the better funding of the Nigeria Correctional Service, as the bill aiming to create its trust fund, passed third reading.
Cases of Child abandonment are no doubt rampant in all states across Nigeria.
Traditional and social media have reported many of such cases over time.
There are indeed different factors responsible for the increasing rate of abandoned new borns.
There are those tagged as witches shortly after birth and are left to die.
Some are also abandoned in hospitals or dumped in such unconventional places as public toilets, dump sites, bushes and drainage systems.
While some are lucky to be rescued, many other babies are not, as they die before help can reach them.
The need to stop this wicked trend has prompted untiring efforts by the House to amend the Child Rights Act.
The bill, sponsored, by Edo legislator, Sergius Ogun, seeks to provide a fine of N200,000 or a six month jail term for anyone found guilty of abandoning a new born
The bill received overwhelming support from his colleagues before scaling second reading
In another legislative effort, the House called on the federal government to resume work on the East-West Rail line project in view of its economic gains
The legislators also considered and adopted a bill to establish Nigeria Peace Corps in order to facilitate Peace, volunteerism, community services, neighbourhood watches and nation building.
The Child Rights Act 2004 was pushed vigorously by Late Former First Lady Mrs Stella Obasanjo who was a well known advocate of the protection of the rights of Children.
The Bill was also able to help women especially those who were housed in so called baby factories regain children who have been sold to the highest bidders.
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