Child Labour: Children Affairs Commissioner, Mezue, moves to stop the trend in Awka and Environs

Recently, there was an increase in the number of child hawkers and children bearing squeegee tools in the Awka capital city even during school hours.

To arrest the ugly trend, the Honourable Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue Ada Dioramma and her team yesterday, 12th March, 2021 raided some flashpoints where the activities were more noticed like Amawbia Express, Kwata and Amawbia bypass (nwalusi junction) respectively.

In her remarks after the exercise, the Commissioner observed that there was an increase in the rate of squeegee children within Awka capital city and beyond, with other evidences of child labour that are exploitative and contradicts the child's rights Law which the State is signatory to.

Lady Mezue informed that Anambra State Government frowns at child labour in any guise and reiterated that any child seen at such hours during week days will be arrested and sent to school.

" There is need for continuous enforcement of the Child Rights Law, which will stop parents/guardians from sending their wards to hawk wares or indulge in other labour during school hours", she said.

The Commissioner counselled the children and warned them not to return to the streets again.

I-Witness Report
13.3.2021

https://www.facebook.com/100000853099449/posts/3934250886613309/?d=n

Good job madam.Those kids used to make cool cash with those tools though. Ofolu unizik fly over

That's the right thing to do! Next is to promulgate a law that will send any parents or guardian,who sends his or her wards out to hawk goods or sell stuff during school hours to prison for atleast 25 calendar years! Very firm legislation that must be enforced vigorously! Parents are not gods who should be allowed to remake or even destroy their children's destiny with all sorts of perverted excuses! Provide funds for families without enough finances(students loan?), so thatindigent families can access those in sending their kids to school. Any parents that refuses to do so , should be sent to prison! For a long time! By the time he or she is out, the child would have been a graduate!