The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to ensure orphanage homes in the country operate in compliance with the laws establishing them.
The House requested the ministry interface with the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure this was achieved.
The call was a sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Boniface Emerengwa (PDP-Rivers) at plenary in Abuja on Wednesday.
Emerengwa argued that under the provisions of Section 14(2)(b) of the nation’s constitution, the primary duty of government is to provide security and welfare to the people.
He said the primary aim of establishing orphanage homes was to cater for the orphans and ensure their safety and wellbeing.
According to the lawmaker, there is a disturbing increase in the establishment of orphanage homes in Nigeria.
“The increase in the number of orphans in Nigeria is due to the level of insecurity in nearly all parts of Nigeria.
“Most proprietors of orphanage homes now prioritise profit over their core mandate, thereby turning orphanage homes into baby factories.
“A good number of orphanage homes are being used for human trafficking, where innocent girls are being recruited to embark on illegal migration to foreign countries’’, he said.
Emerengwa said that there was an urgent need for the government at all levels to formulate stringent laws for the establishment and regulation of orphanage homes in the country.
He also said that there was an urgent need to clamp down on all unregistered orphanage homes in line with the government’s primary duty of ensuring the ensuring the security and welfare of its citizens.
The Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, mandated the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development to ensure compliance with the resolution before adjourning plenary to April 16. (NAN)
