Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Thursday, swore in Dr. Michael Ezeugwu Ajogwu (SAN), as Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), for a second tenure.
Ugwuanyi at the event held at the EXCO Chamber, Government House, Enugu, also swore in Dr. Greene Anike-Nweze as ENSIEC Member 1 for a second term.
The swearing-in followed their re-appointment by Ugwuanyi.
Speaking after they were sworn-in, Ajogwu, on behalf of himself and his colleague, thanked Ugwuanyi for the magnanimity he extended to them by finding them worthy to serve for a second term, after they successfully completed their first term of five years.
Ajogwu promised that they will discharge their duties faithfully, and in accordance with the law and their Oath of Office.
In his remarks, Ugwuanyi congratulated them and wished them well in their new tenure.
He used the opportunity to appreciate other members of ENSIEC for their commitment and diligent in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and state’s Solicitor-General, Victor Emeribe, administered the Oath on Ajogwu and Anike-Nweze.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Prof. Malachy Okwueze, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve Oruruo, ENSIEC Secretary, Chukwudi Amah, other members of the Commission, and wife of the Chairman, Hon. Justice V.C. Ajogwu, witnessed the event.
Meanwhile, Ugwuanyi has reiterated the state government’s readiness to partner the Federal Government in the fight against child labour and eliminate child llbour in the state by 2025.
The governor made this known on Thursday, when he received in audience members of Enugu State Steering Committee on Child Labour who paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Enugu.
Represented by Ortuanya, Ugwuanyi said that Enugu is one of the few states which signed the Child’s Rights law. He assured the committee of the State Government’s partnership and preparedness to eliminate child labour.
In his address, the Controller/Zonal Director Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Enugu and leader of the Federal Steering Committee on Child Labour (Zonal), Chuka Umunna, noted that the issue of child labour is a universal problem which is a great concern to all.
He said that: “Nigeria has ratified and domesticated several United Nations and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions on the fight against child labour, forced labour and trafficking in persons.
“These include the United Nations conventions on the Rights of Child,1989, the ILO convention No. 182 on the worst form of child labour 1999, the Minimum Age convention,1973(C-138), the Convention against Trans-National Organized crime and it’s supplementary protocol to prevent , suppress and punish Trafficking in persons. 2000(Palermo protocol) and the African Charter on the Rights and welfare of the child 1990”, he said.
The Zonal Director disclosed that the Federal Government had developed a National Policy on Child labour.
“The National Policy on Child labour is a response to the growing concern and determination of the Federal Government of Nigeria to eliminate child labour.
“The increasing presence presents a serious threat to the future of all children and the overall development of the children. It also create a reservoir of children for easy recruitment into prostitution, robbery, violent crimes and other forms of deviant behaviours
“There also exits a National Action Plan for elimination of child labour(2022-2025) which was reviewed and revalidated on 15yh April, 2021 with the support of ILO along with National Policy in Child labour.
“With the validation, the next step in the process involved the adaptation of the National Action Plan to the child labour context in the states,”he said.
Umunna commended the Enugu State Government for passing into law, the Child’s Rights and Responsibility Law in 2016.
“This shows that Enugu State Government is pro-active on the issues of child labour.”
He, however, lamentated “the high prevalence of child labour in Enugu State’, saying, “This can be seen in terms of children involving in hawking, begging, street trading, scavenging, bus conductors, agriculture and mining activities to mention but a few.
“It is the determination of the Steering committee on Child Labour to eliminate Child Labour completely in Enugu State by the year 2025.
” The honorable minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Dr Nwabueze Ngige, has mandated every state office of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to establish State Steering Committee on Child Labour in line with the ILO standard”, Umunna said.
He appealed for state government’s support in areas of development and validation of the Enugu State Action Plan, formal launch of the Enugu state Steering Committee on Child Labour, production of resource materials, capacity building, facilitation of access of child labour victims to rehabilitation and reintegration services and prevention of relapse, support multi-sectional and inter agency approach that is participatory, community based, community driven and gender responsive and forged broad partnerships, dialogue, consultations and effective coordination among stakeholders, psychosocial support and child friendly spaced, financial support, among others .
The Director expressed the hope that “multi-sectorial approach will totally eliminate child labour in Enugu State.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development,and chairperson, Enugu State Steering Committee on Child Labour, Princess Peace Nnaji, informed the governor that the federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has the mandate to work with the state to make sure that the issue of child labour is wiped out of Enugu State.
