socio-economic rights

PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN IN NIGERIA: LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROGRESSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

Adekunbi Adeleye*

ABSTRACT

This article evaluates the legal framework for the progressive realization of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESR) provisions on socio-economic human rights of children in Nigeria. It reviews the nature, scope and content of children’s rights espoused by the ICESR and then examines how these socio-economic rights of children, both nationals and non-nationals, can be guaranteed and progressively realized within the relevant provisions of Nigerian law and the limited available resources, given that Nigeria is a developing country. The article also discusses how legal barriers posed by the non-justiciability of the socio-economic rights under the fundamental objectives and directive principles of the Nigerian Constitution and other challenges to the full realization of the socio-economic rights can be overcome.

Keywords: Nigeria, children, socio-economic rights, progressive realization, core minimum standard.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jsdlp.v7i2.12


* LLB, BL, LLM, Lecturer, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria, email: kumbexadex@yahoo.com