TEENAGE IMPRISONMENT: LASG RESTATES COMMITMENT TO CHILD RIGHTS LAW
Lagos State Government has described the imprisonment of some under-age children recently set free from different prisons by the State Chief Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade as unlawful, restating the present administration’s support for the protection of children’s rights through the Child Rights Law.
The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funmilola Odunlami disclosed this recently at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja during an interactive session with relevant stakeholders on children welfare matters including prison officials and officers of the Nigeria Police Force among others.
She explained that the intention of the Child Rights Law is to prescribe appropriate sanctions for children found in conflict with the law and provide appropriate rehabilitation methods rather than issuing an imprisonment term.
According to her, there is need to provide appropriate training for Magistrates presiding over matters concerning children in conflict with the law as well as relevant stakeholders, adding that the appropriate court which is the Family Court should be allowed to exercise jurisdiction on matters affecting minors.
She said that all hands are on deck to checkmate incidences of restiveness among children through proper parental upbringing and societal support.
In her words, “Parents must begin to assume responsibility for their children by being alive to their responsibilities. Gone are the days when parents left their roles to religious organisations and government.”
“Legal officers should also know their areas of jurisdiction and limitations and also relate with law enforcement officers so that appropriate authorities could be contacted when the need arises” she stated.
Odunlami maintained that if appropriate Courts are allowed to preside over issues that concern them directly, the incidences of sentencing minors to prisons would drastically reduce.
Stakeholders at the occasion deliberated on issues regarding alternative means of punishing children and introduction of community services by Magistrates when sentencing the minors.
Participants also sought for improved synergy between the State Ministries of Youth and Social Development and Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for the introduction of additional skills-acquisition programmes for children in correctional centres and rehabilitation homes.