The answer is obvious since the responsibility for legislation all over the world resides in the parliament. Some of the abuses like child prostitution, slavery and labour have international dimensions. The first role of parliament is to enact relevant legislation to punish the perpetrators of these abuses. Beyond these, the parliaments should ensure the ratification and domestication of the international conventions, so that the relevant authorities can use them to report on the abuses. The National Assembly shall take steps to complement the passage of the Children s Bill by ensuring that all the relevant conventions are not only ratified but also domesticated without delay.
Parliaments also have a role to play in the enforcement of the legislations.
According to Section 88 of the Nigerian Constitution, the National Assembly has oversight functions over the relevant authorities connected with law enforcement. We are sure that this is not dissimilar to what obtains in other countries. A continuous process of examination of compliance with the international treaties will ensure that rights of the child are upheld and abuse minimised. It is also the responsibility of parliaments to ensure beyond providing the legal framework that money is supplied to social services that promote the dignity of the child. The power of appropriation resides with the legislature.