Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State says it is now a crime for parents and guardians in the state not to enroll children of school age under their watch in schools.
Otti said this on Tuesday in Umuahia, during the 2024 Children’s Day Celebration, with the theme: “Enhancing the Total Well-being of The Nigerian Child Through Quality Education and Skills Development.”
He said that the policy would be supported with a legislation by the State House of Assembly, which would prescribe a penalty for offenders.
The governor said that a serious penalty would be meted out to any parent or guardian, who runs foul of the law, and the implementation would be followed effectively.
He expressed the determination of the state government to protect the rights of the Abia child.
Otti said that under his watch no child in the state would either be marginalised or molested.
He said that the government had earmarked 20 per cent of the 2024 State Budget to education.
Otti said that the government would rehabilitate the public schools in Abia into model schools, with science and technology laboratories; hostels; teachers’ quarters; electronic libraries; among other modern facilities.
He apologised to Abia children for the failures of the past administrations, which had either directly or indirectly affected them, which could be as a result of their benefactors being owed salaries, among other difficulties.
Otti reiterated his commitment to improving the welfare of the Abia child, and assured that the story would be different in his administration.
Earlier, Mrs. Blessing Felix, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said that the Day was a time set aside to celebrate children and encourage them to strive to attain their full potentials, as leaders of tomorrow.
Felix said that the commitment of the present administration to the welfare of Abia children would remain unwavering.
She urged parents to provide their children with proper guidance, as this would encourage them to excel in their educational pursuits.
In a message to Abia children, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, listed interventions which would be introduced by her office.
Otti said that such interventions would be aimed at empowering Abia children, with particular focus on the girl-child.
The interventions, she said, include donation of school supplies, reviving adult education and mass literacy centres; providing technical and vocational skills acquisition programmes, among others.