The Oyo State House of Assembly has taken a giant step to end the menace of street begging being perpetrated by under-aged children in the state.
In a motion jointly moved during the Assembly plenary on Tuesday by the Majority Leader, Hon. Hassan Subair (Ibadan South West 1) and Hon. Fatai Adesina (Ibadan South East) with the theme ‘Urgent Need to Curb the Menace of Begging by Under-aged Children on Major Streets’ in the State, the duo observed that of recent, child beggars prowling major streets in the state have increased tremendously, pointing to the fact that the role the government was playing in the training and upbringing was not effective, in view of children dropping out of school and turning to beggars and miscreants on the streets.
“For a child to be responsible, the child must have good upbringing, from immediate parents, family and the government. The training and upbringing of a child must include moral upbringing and sound education.
“Concerned that the negative effects the actions and attitudes child beggars will have, on the state in particular and the country at large especially in future is better imagined than experienced.”
They added that the future of the young beggars on the streets was a contrast to the statement that the youth are leaders of tomorrow, noting that there was the need for urgent steps to stop the nefarious attitude and vices which, they said, was already becoming a norm.
The lawmakers, however, urged the executive arm through the state’s Ministry of Education and the state’s Universal Basic Education Board to set up a special task force that would apprehend children on the streets during school hours for proper placement.
“Through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation rehabilitate the miscreants and out of school children.
“Through the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to sensitize the general public, especially parents on the need to give adequate care to their wards.”
Similarly, the lawmakers appealed to parents, guardians and care givers to monitor and take adequate care of their wards in order to ensure that they attend school for proper training.
While commenting on the motion, notable lawmakers who spoke commended the movers of the motion, while noting that the government needed to take measures to nip the act in the bud.
They said the increase in the number of child beggars in the state called for urgent attention of all and sundry.
Packaged by Omotoyosi Jesuleye
