The National Population Commission (NPC) Zamfara State has disclosed that the commission targets to capture no fewer than 217,158 unregistered children between the ages of zero to five years in the state.
This was disclosed by the Federal commissioner in charge of Zamfara State NPC, Muhammad Muttaka Rini on Saturday in Gusau, during the flagged off of electronic civil registration and vital statistics organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the NPC with support from UNICEF in the state.
The federal commissioner who was represented by the Director of the NPC, Zamfara State, Danjuma Musa said registration for birth and death was in line with constitutional provision.
“This is in line with the constitutional responsibility of the Commission as mandated by Act Number 69 of 1992 on Births, Deaths etc. (Compulsory Registrations) which assigned the function of the registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces etc. to National Population Commission. This was reinforced by section 23 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He stressed that the registrations of these vital events are relevant for planning and administrative purposes, medical and statistical uses.
“Most importantly, the birth certificate gives every child an identity, Government’s recognition and provides documented evidence to the existence of a child.”
He maintained that the Commission is upgrading this service from the former manual registration to digital registration by using the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (ECRVS) System.
“For this year’s drive, the Commission has targeted to capture at least two hundred and seventeen thousand, one hundred and fifty eight (217,158) yet unregistered children within the age of zero to five years in the state.
“To achieve this, the commission has trained and engaged 965 Adhoc Volunteers,147 health workers and 60 Staff registrars for the exercise. These officers will be supervised and assisted by the 14 LGA NPC Comptrollers, 6 ICT Support officers, 14 NIMC officers and 14 COMO officers from NOA for community sensitization and mobilization.”
According to him,to further advance the drive for total coverage, the Commission proposes to partner with relevant Sister Agencies in the Actualization of the M.O.U for Strategic integration with the Primary Health Care, the Ministry of Education, Ministry for Women Affairs and the Universal Basic Education Board to ensure that birth registration is incorporated into their activities.
“The commission has also proposed partnership for the actualisation of the M.O.U with the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for the integration of at least one LGA staff for each ward as birth registration officer to boost coverage.”
They also proposed biannual mass mop-up of yet unregistered children age zero to seventeen across the State,which the commission is ready and open for collaboration with any agency in the activities and any other program that will benefit the good people of Zamfara State.
“I wish to draw the attention of her Excellency, the State Government and all stakeholders, that these laudable efforts come with challenges. Our desire to give our children an identity and securing their future is challenged by several obstacles.
In her speech, the wife of Zamfara State Governor, Hajiya Huriya Dauda Lawal explained that the important of birth registration can not be over emphasize,saying it’s critical for Nigeria child survival as it enable provision of health, education among others.
She assured that Zamfara State government,under the leadership of present administration of Governor Dauda Lawal is committed to the wellbeing of every citizen of the state
The UNICEF child protection manager Abuja Mona Aika disclosed that birth registration is the human rights, right of every child and it’s free.
Also speaking,the chief of field office UNICEF sokoto Micheal Juma said UNICEF has advocate hundred percent birth registration for every child.
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