Its Chairman, Mr Idris Ndako, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

Ndako said that such step if taken, would serve as deterrent to parents and guardians who abuse children in any form.

The NLC chair called for a law that would be
binding on all defaulters, noting that a lot of children had lost their
destinies due to street begging.

“We continue to say that youths
are the leaders of tomorrow, but that is only true if they are given the
basic training as children.

“These children are seen begging for food on a daily basis; their identity is plastic plates with rope tied around their necks.

“They are usually in worn-out, filthy clothes.

“Niger
state government should promulgate a law against the trafficking of
male children from the neighbouring states in the name of acquiring
Islamic knowledge, only for them to end up as child beggars.

“It is a fact that every child has the
right to learn in any part the country and the world at large, but it
has to be the responsibility of parents or funding organisations if on
scholarship.

“Underage children cannot be
patrolling our streets begging for money and food, when they are
supposed to be learning in a formal school system and government just
looks away,” he said.

According to Ndako, an average Islamic teacher
does not have food to give to the teeming pupils under his tutelage and
is, therefore, left with no choice than to allow them go begging for
their daily up-keep.

“This is child labour and government should do the needful on this matter to save the children and the society,” he stated.