Parental Responsibility and Child Support Enforcement in Bauchi State Family Courts

Child support enforcement remains a critical challenge in Nigerian family law, particularly in North East states where formal court processes are less accessible and paternal responsibility norms are shaped by customary and Islamic traditions. This study examines the legal framework for parental responsibility and child support enforcement in Bauchi State, evaluating the operation of the Bauchi State Child Rights Law and Sharia-compliant child maintenance provisions within the State's customary court system. Using an empirical research design, the study analyses 40 child support orders issued between 2019 and 2024 and conducts interviews with 25 family court judges, 30 custodial mothers, and 10 social welfare officers in Bauchi and Azare. Findings reveal that while courts regularly issue child support orders, enforcement is severely constrained by judicial capacity limitations, absence of wage garnishment mechanisms, and social norms that discourage women from pursuing legal claims against fathers. The research also documents the consequences of child support non-payment, including school dropouts, malnutrition, and child labour. The study argues that effective enforcement requires both legal reform and complementary social protection measures. Recommendations include the introduction of administrative child support enforcement agencies, payroll deduction orders, and legal literacy programmes for custodial parents, with sensitivity to Bauchi State's multicultural legal environment. Keywords: child support, parental responsibility, enforcement, Bauchi State, family law