Senator Jarigbe Decries Plight of Nigerian Girl-Child, Supports Motion For State of Emergency

Judex OKORO

The Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has decried the plight of Nigerian girl-child, calling for declaration of state of emergency on child protection.

Supporting the motion "The Plight of the Nigerian Girl-Child and the Need for Urgent Intervention by the Federal Government to Save the Future” moved by Senator Ireti Kingibe, Jarigbe emphasised the importance of safeguarding the future of Nigerian girl children.

According to Jarigbe, representing Cross River North senatorial district, the Nigeria girl-child has been subjected to various forms of deprivations and and now is the auspicious time to protect them and build a better future.

He said: "The girl-child in our society are the most vulnerable because people take undue advantage of them.

"The society is not giving them equal opportunity like the male counterpart. They are the weaker sex."

According to him, it has become imperative to for federal government to declare a state of emergency on girl child protection.

The motion also highlighted alarming statistics on out of school girls, child marriage, gender-based violence and human trafficking.

After debates on the principles of the Motion, the Senate called the federal government to declare a state of emergency on girl child protection, to increase funding for girl child education and healthcare and strengthen laws against child abuse and exploitation.

The Senate also called for the establish a national task force to coordinate protection efforts.