By Archibong Jeremiah
In commemoration of World Day Against Child Labor, Network of Civil Society Organizations against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labor (NACTAL) has held a prayer session, asking God to open the eyes of the State and Federal Government to place more priority on children.
The session held at Treasure House Community Church, Bayside, Calabar South, Cross River State Sunday June 11, 2016. The event which is marked yearly worldwide was described by the State Coordinator, Miss. Victoria Ukpong, as necessary.
She condemned all forms of crimes against any child assuring all that the group will remain steadfast in the fight against child labor, trafficking and other forms of abuse which she said gave rise to the theme of this year “End Child Labor In Supply Chain, Its Every ones Business”.
Delivering a brief talk on the theme, Mr. Eshua Joseph defined child labor as any task assigned to a child that is below his or her cognitive, psychomotor and psychosocial domains. He went on to lash the State Social Welfare as bearing just a name without impact.
Condemning violation of children’s’ right, he called on all and sundry to join NACTAL in the fight against child labor and other forms of abuses. Eshua ended urging everyone not to “give up, God is on our side”.
On her part Mrs. Henrietta Etukudo, Desk Officer for Child Labor, Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment faulted parents also for what she described as covert abuse of their children revealing that most recently, she has prosecuted five parents for such crime.
Spanking the State Ministry of Social Welfare for low performance and coordination she maintained that the Social Welfare scheme has failed in its mandate, “the government should look more into Community Welfare scheme because communities are the grass root” she said.
Earlier while delivering a sermon around the theme, the Head Pastor of the Church Pastor Emmah Emmah said it is the duty of all and sundry to nurture children and it has to be done in a Godly manner.
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