Reps call for enforcement of 18-year minimum marriage age, end child marriage

The House of Representatives on Thursday called for the enforcement of the Child Rights Act, 2003, which establishes 18 years as the minimum age for marriage in Nigeria, as part of renewed efforts to end child marriage and protect the rights of the girl child.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the International Day of the Girl Child, titled ‘End Child Marriage and Invest in the Girl Child’, sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara.

Leading the debate, Ogbara stressed that the domestication and effective implementation of child rights legislation across Nigeria’s states remained essential to ensuring consistent protection for every child, irrespective of geographical location or socioeconomic background.

She explained that the International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on 11 October, recognises the rights of girls, promotes gender equality and draws attention to the challenges confronting them, including child marriage, gender-based violence, discrimination and limited access to education and economic opportunities.

“The House is aware that the theme, ‘End Child Marriage and Invest in the Girl Child’, calls for urgent and coordinated action to protect girls from harmful practices, uphold their fundamental rights, and provide them with the education, healthcare, skills, and opportunities necessary to reach their full potential,” the lawmaker said.

Ogbara expressed concern that child marriage remained a significant human rights, public health, educational and socioeconomic challenge in Nigeria, disproportionately affecting girls in vulnerable communities and depriving them of opportunities to develop their potential.

“The House is concerned that child marriage remains a significant human rights, public health, educational, and socioeconomic challenge in Nigeria, disproportionately affecting girls in vulnerable communities and undermining their ability to enjoy childhood, complete their education, and participate fully in national development,” she noted.

The Lagos lawmaker further warned that child marriage exposed girls to increased risks of early pregnancy, maternal and newborn health complications, gender-based violence and poverty, with consequences that could undermine their wellbeing and long-term development.

She maintained that protecting girls from early marriage was consistent with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

According to her, these international instruments require governments to take appropriate measures to protect children from harmful practices, exploitation and discrimination, while ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected and upheld.

“The House further acknowledged that ending child marriage requires a comprehensive approach involving the Federal Government, state governments, local governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, development partners, and communities,” she said.

Ogbara also emphasised the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to enact and strengthen laws, formulate policies and provide budgetary support to safeguard children’s rights and promote the welfare and development of Nigerian girls.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House called on the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Justice and relevant agencies, to strengthen national programmes aimed at preventing child marriage and protecting girls at risk.

The lawmakers stressed the need for coordinated interventions among government institutions and other stakeholders to address the underlying factors that expose girls to early marriage, while improving access to education, healthcare and other essential services.

To strengthen legislative oversight, the House mandated its joint committees on Women Affairs and Social Development, Education, Health, Human Rights and Justice to engage relevant ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to assess existing interventions and identify implementation gaps.

The joint committees were further directed to recommend appropriate legislative and budgetary measures to end child marriage and improve investment in the girl child, and to report their findings to the House within four weeks.

The resolution underscores the House’s renewed push for stronger enforcement of child protection laws and coordinated action by government institutions, traditional and religious leaders, families and communities to ensure that Nigerian girls are protected from early marriage and given opportunities to complete their education, develop their skills and contribute meaningfully to national development.