Responsibilities of Children

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RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHILDREN

The first question to answer at this point is who is a child? According to the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the child which Nigeria is a signatory. Child is defined as human being below the age of 18 years. In some other climes, 16-17 years is seen as the threshold of a child i.e once you are below 16 years you will still be regarded as a child. On the other hand, Responsibilities mean the state or fact of being responsible, answerable, or accountable for something within one’s power, control, or management.
Every child has responsibilities towards his family and society, government and other legally recognized communities, nationally and internationally.

As a child, subject to his age and ability and such other limitations as provided in the relevant law, has the following responsibilities to‐

– work towards the cohesion of his family and community;
– respect his parents, superiors and elders at all times and assist them in case of need;
– serve the Federal Republic of Nigeria by placing his physical and intellectual abilities at his service;
– contribute to the moral well‐being of the society;
– preserve am strengthen social and national solidarity;
– preserve and strengthen the independence and integrity of Federal Republic of Nigeria;
– respect the ideals of democracy, freedom, equality, humaneness, honesty and justice for all persons;
– relate with other members of the society, with different cultural values in the spirit of tolerance, dialogue and consultation;
– contribute to the best of his abilities at all times and at all levels, to the promotion and achievement of Nigerian, African and world unity; and
– contribute to the best of his abilities. at all times and at all levels, to the solidarity of the African people and the human race.
There are also punishments for any recalcitrant child. There are family courts in each of the state of the federation that exercise exclusive jurisdiction in any matter relating to child offences and the likes.

Jacob Akowe.