The Edo State Government says it will begin to arrest and prosecute parents of out-of-school children as part of efforts to tackle the menace of street begging in the state.
Governor Godwin Obaseki stated this when the Muslim faithful paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Benin City, to celebrate the Eid-El Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan.
The governor noted that basic education is the right of every child, and added that basic education is also free in the state.
He warned that in the next few weeks or months, the government would no longer allow street begging in the state, adding that those arrested can be engaged in farming or would be sent back to where they came from.
“We have farm settlements and we need hands and labour to cultivate food. People arrested from where they were begging will be evacuated to the farm settlements to work and if they don’t want to work, they will be sent back to where they come from.
The governor said, “We believe that basic education is the right for every child in Edo State; it’s their right and it’s free and compulsory. We will link education with street begging and street children.
“In the next few weeks or months, we will not allow street begging in the state anymore. We have farm settlements and we need hands and labour to cultivate food. People arrested from where they were begging will be evacuated to the farm settlements to work and if they don’t want to work, they will be sent back to where they come from.
He urged the Muslim faithful on religious tolerance, stating that everyone must learn to be tolerant to be able to overcome the economic pressure in the country.
“We just employed 3,062 teachers in the rural communities as they have just finished their training. We will make sure those hard-to-reach areas in the riverine communities will have teachers to teach children. We are training them now to work in those communities.”
Charging the Muslim faithful with tolerance, Obaseki stated, “We all must learn to be tolerant to be able to overcome the economic pressure in the land.
“As a government, we will never deceive our people because the people gave us power through the electoral process to lead them.
“Our administration is working hard to create more jobs and opportunities for the people of the state and ensure that life is better for them. We are also creating a peaceful environment, infrastructure, and security to make the state safe.”
Reassuring that his administration will continue to use resources for the growth and development of the state, Obaseki said, “As a government, we will continue to emphasize that government money is not for few politicians but for the generality of the public, and will not be used for politicians but for the people. We will continue to work for the people of Edo State, not for a few politicians.”
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