DOMESTICATION OF THE CHILD’S RIGHTS ACT, 2003 IN KADUNA STATE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

DOMESTICATION OF THE CHILD’S RIGHTS ACT, 2003 IN KADUNA STATE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract: 

The Child’s Rights Act 2003 (CRA) is a product of International and Regional legal frameworks on the rights of the child as treaties. It was enacted into law as required by the Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria to have force of law in the country subject to ratification by states of the Federation and adoption by individualStates for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child. Kaduna State among few other states has not yet adopted or domesticated the CRA. There are currently some child’s rights related laws operational in Kaduna State which are either holistic or partial such as the Constitution, Children and Young Person’s Law of Kaduna State, Kaduna State Infant Edict, Kaduna State Legitimacy Law, the Penal Code, ShariaPenal Code, Labour Act and Matrimonial Cause Act. The operational Laws are characterized with some deficiencies hence, the need for CRA in Kaduna State. The research is associated with problems such as Constitutional, Religious, Socio-Cultural, Economic, Administrative, awareness and non-implementation and enforcement. The domestication of CRA is faced with some challenges flowing from the above stated problems such as non-compliance with the requirement of the constitution and inconsistencies of some provisions of the CRA with the Constitution, controversial provisions of the CRA in relation to religions, poor economic standard of the people of Kaduna, poor administrative synergy between concerned stakeholders, lack of awareness and non-implementation and enforcement of CRA in other states of the federation. There are prospects for the domestication of CRA in Kaduna State amidst the challenges if the government and stakeholders can amend or modify some provisions of the CRA, warrant friendly economic standard, educate or give orientation on some socio-cultural practices, implement existing laws appropriately. The research made some findings among others viz: violation of Constitutional provisions in the enactment of CRA, other laws in Kaduna contemplate people’s interests, only Muslims contest against the CRA, economic situation in Kaduna State is not favourable and failure of government to observe its responsibilities. Based on the said findings, the following are recommended: consideration of supremacy of the Constitution, interest of the people, there should be collective protest against controversial provisions of the law and finally the government should live up to its responsibilities. The research embarked on doctrinal and empirical research methodology to source materials and facts to make the research a success

TABLE OF CASES
Page
Alh. Isa Bida vs Baiwa Daughter of Alh. Isa Bida (SCA/NWS/CV/47/70…………96
Fawehinmi vs Abacha (1996) NWLR (pt475) P 710 at 722 ……………………….88
Federal Military Government vs the Probation Officer & ORS,
Experte Ijahe (1978) 3ECSLR 887………………………………………………….46-47
Head of Federal Military Government vs Warri Court Experte
Sake (1973) 3LRN 208……………………………………………………..……….47
Idehen vs Idehen (1991) 6NWLR (Pt 198) P 382……………………………………110
Karinmatu Yakubu vs Alh. Yakubu Tafida Paiko (1989) SLR P.126……….………96
Mojekwu vs Mojekwu (1997) 7 NWLR (pt 612) P 238-425………………..………109
Obganon vs RegisteredTrustees CCC (2002) 1 NWLR (pt 749) P 675…….………109
Ogunbayo vs State (2007) 8 NWLR (pt 1035) P 157……….………………9,119-120
Upahar vs State (2003) 6 NWLR (pt 816) P 230 ……………………………………9, 120
Williams vs Williams (1987) 2NWLR (pt 54) P 66…………………………………29

TABLE OF STATUTES

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 1991………………. 1, 15
Children and Young Persons Act CAP 77………………………………………. 62
Children and Young Persons Law Kaduna State CAP 26 of 1991………… 15,67,68,69,70
Child’s Rights Act 2003 CAP C50………………………………… 1,15,25,26,27,28,-64
Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as Amended ……… 1,65,66
Criminal Code CAP 38 ………………………………………………….. 9, 119
English Children Act 1989……………………………………………… 29
Jigawa State Child’s Rights Law 2007 Vol. 1 No. 6 …..…………….. 15
Kaduna State Infant Edict CAP 75…….…………………………….12, 70, 71,72, 73
Kaduna State Legitimacy Law CAP 87……………………………………. 12, 73, 74
Labour Act CAP L 1………………………………………………………. 12, 82,83
Matrimonial Cause Act CAP M 7 …………………………………………. 12,83,84
Penal Code CAP 3………………………………………………………… 12,74, 75
Sharia Penal Code…………………………………………………….. 12,75,76,77
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989……………. 1,15

ABBREVIATIONS
CILS – Centre for Islamic Legal Studies
LRN – Law Report of Nigeria
NIV – New International Version
NWLR – Nigerian Weekly Law Report
SCA – Sharia Court of Appeal
SLR – Sharia Law Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover page ….. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. ….
Title Page …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. i
Declaration …. ….. ….. ….. …. …. ….. ….. ….. ii
Certification …. ….. ….. ….. …. …. ….. ….. ….. iii
Dedication …. ….. ….. ….. …. …. ….. ….. ….. iv
Acknowledgement …. ….. ….. ….. …. …. ….. ….. v
Table of Cases …. ….. ….. ….. …. …. ….. ….. ….. vi
Table of Statutes …. ….. ….. ….. …. …. ….. ….. vii
Abstract …. ….. ….. ….. …. …. ….. ….. ….. viii
Abbreviation …. ….. ….. ….. …. …. ….. ….. ….. ix
Table of Contents …. ….. ….. ….. …. …. ….. ….. x
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study …. …. …. …. …. …. 1-2
1.2 Statement of the Problem …. …. …. …. …. …. 3-5
1.3 Aim and Objectives …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 6
1.4 Justification …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 7
1.5 Scope of the Research …. …. …. …. …. …. 7
1.6 Research Methodology …. …. …. …. …. …. 7-8
1.7 Literature Review …. …. …. …. …. …. 8-12
1.8 Organizational Layout …. …. …. …. …. …. 12-13

xi

CHAPTER TWO
CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATIONS
2.1 The Meaning of Child …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 14-15
2.2 Best Interest of the child …. …. …. …. …. …. 15-16
2.3 The Concept of Right …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 16
2.4 The Concept of child abuse …. …. …. …. …. …. 16-19
2.5 Juvenile Justice …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 19
2.6 Legitimacy …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 19
2.7 The Concept of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Test…. …. …. …. 20
2.8 The Concept of Almajiri System of Education …. …. …. 20-23
2.9 The Concept of Culture …. …. …. …. …. …. 23-24
CHAPTER THREE
AN APPRAISAL OF THE CHILD’S RIGHTS ACT, 2003
3.1 The Rationale of the CRA …. …. …. …. …. …. 27-28
3.2 Structure of the CRA …. …. …. …. …. …. 28-29
3.3 Contents of the CRA …. …. …. …. …. …. 29
3.3.1 The Best Interest of the Child …. …. …. …. …. …. 29-31
3.3.2 Rights of the Child …. ….. ….. ….. ….. …. …. 31-41
3.3.3 Responsibilities of the Child …. …. …. …. …. …. 41
3.3.4 Responsibilities of the Parent …. …. …. …. …. 42-43
3.3.5 Protection of the Rights of the Child …. …. …. …. …. 43-45
3.3.6 Children in Need of care and protection …. …. …. …. 45-48
3.3.7 Care and Supervision of Children …. …. …. …. …. 48-49
3.3.8 Provisions for use of Scientific test in determining paternity or
Maternity of a Child …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 49-51
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3.3.9 Possession and Custody, Guardianship and Fostering of
Children and adoption …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 51-57
3.3.10 Establishment of family Court …. …. …. …. …. 58-61
3.3.11 Administration of Justice, supervision officer approvable of
Institutional etc …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 61-64
CHAPTERFOUR
EXAMINATION OF CHILD’S RIGHT’S RELATED LAWS IN KADUNA STATE
4.1 The Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) …. 65-67
4.2 Kaduna State Children and Young Person’s Law ….. ….. ….. 67-70
4.3 Kaduna State Infant Edict …. …. …. …. …. …. 71-73
4.4 Other Relevant Laws …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 73
4.4.1 Kaduna State Legitimacy Law …. …. …. …. …. 73-74
4.4.2 The Penal Code…. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 74-75
4.4.3 The Sharia Penal Code and Rights of the Child under Islamic Law …. 75-82
4.4.4 The Labour Act …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 82-83
4.4.5 The Matrimonial Cause Act …. …. …. …. …. …. 83-84
CHAPTER FIVE
CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR THE DOMESTICATION OF CHILD’S RIGHTS ACT, 2003 IN KADUNA STATE
5.1 Constitutional Challenge …. …. …. …. …. …. 87-91
5.1.1 Prospects for Constitutional Challenge …. …. …. …. 91
5.2 Religious Challenge …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 91
5.2.1 Right to Freedom from Discrimination …. …. …. …. 91-93
5.2.2 Prohibition of Child Marriage and Betrothal …. …. …. …. 93-98
5.2.3 Use of Scientific Test for Proof of Paternity …. …. …. …. 98-100
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5.2.4 Lawfulness of Adoption …. …. …. …. …. ….101-102
5.2.5 Prohibition of Corporal Punishment …. …. …. …. ….102-107
5.2.6 Prospects for religion challenge … … … … ….108
5.3 Socio-Cultural Challenge …. …. …. …. …. ….108-111
5.3.1 Prospects for Socio-Cultural Challenge …. …. …. ….112
5.4 Economic Challenge …. …. …. …. …. …. ….112-115
5.4.1 Prospects for Economic Challenge …. …. …. …. ….115
5.5 Administrative Challenge …. …. …. …. …. ….116
5.5.1 Prospects for Administrative challenge … … … …116
5.6 Awareness and Acceptability Challenge …. …. …. ….117-118
5.6.1 Prospects for awareness and acceptability Challenge … … …118
5.7 Challenge of Non-Implementation and Enforcement of CRA in other States118120
5.7.1 Prospects for the challenge of non-implementation and enforcement of CRA in
Other States …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. 121-122
5.8 Data Analysis …. …. …. …. …. …. …. ….122
5.8.1 The Research Methods and Data Collection …. …. …. ….122-139
CHAPTER SIX
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
6.1 Summary …. …. …. …. …. …. …. ….140-141
6.2 Findings …. …. …. …. …. …. …. ….142
6.3 Observations …. …. …. …. …. …. …. ….142-146
6.4 Recommendations …. …. …. …. …. …. ….146-147
BIBLIOGRAPHY …. …. …. …. …. …. ….148-151

 

DOMESTICATION OF THE CHILD’S RIGHTS ACT, 2003 IN KADUNA STATE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

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