Unabated Menace of Child Marriage in Nigeria. The Need for an Enabling Constitutional Provision

Abstract

This paper examines the menace of unabated child marriage in Nigeria. It defines child marriage in tandem with marriageable age. It examines the applicable laws and international instruments on child marriage.The paper posits that child marriage remains prevalent especially in northern Nigeria because the practice of child marriage is accepted within the applicable customary law of the people. Despite the laudable provisions of the Child Rights Act of 2003, it  has failed in tackling child marriage due mainly to the non-enactment of the law by northern States in Nigeria except Jigawa. Addressing this problem in Nigeria  is crucial for the protection and realization of the  child rights, especially the girl child. The paper concludes that early marriage as it pertains to marriageable age be made a fundamental right under chapter iv of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and multi-faceted approaches  through mass enlightenment and grassroot door-to-door campaign is necessary to tackle the menace of child marriage.

Keywords: Child marriage, unabated menace,Child Rights Act 2003,Constitutional provisions, marriageable age.

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/98-24

Publication date:June 30th 2020