The Effectiveness of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in Protecting Nigerian Children: An Empirical Assessment

This research empirically assesses the effectiveness of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) as a mechanism for protecting children's rights in Nigeria, generating evidence that fills a significant gap in African regional human rights scholarship. Nigeria is party to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the ACERWC serves as its treaty-monitoring body, yet the practical impact of Committee recommendations on domestic child rights conditions in Nigeria has not been rigorously assessed. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of Nigeria's state party reporting compliance record, ACERWC concluding observations from 2015 to 2024, and content analysis of domestic legislative and policy changes following Committee recommendations, with qualitative interviews conducted with child rights officers at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, UNICEF Nigeria, and civil society CRC specialists. The theoretical framework draws on compliance theories in international law, particularly the managerial model and legitimacy-based compliance approaches. Findings reveal low domestic compliance with ACERWC recommendations due to political will deficits, limited awareness of the Committee's outputs among domestic policymakers, and absence of a dedicated follow-up mechanism within Nigeria's federal bureaucracy. The study proposes a model domestic ACERWC implementation framework. Recommendations include designation of a federal focal unit for African children's rights treaty compliance, annual legislative review of outstanding Committee recommendations, and parliamentary oversight hearings. Keywords: ACERWC, children's rights, treaty compliance, African Charter, Nigeria.