CRC/C/NGA/CO/3-4 religion or belief. The State party is urged to ensure that those states that have not yet adopted the Child Rights Act do so within the shortest period possible and to continue and strengthen awareness-raising activities about the Convention and the CRA in those states. Coordination 9. While appreciating the coordinating role of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWA&SD) for ensuring compliance with the implementation of the Convention in the State party, the establishment of specific ministries charged with women and children’s affairs in all states and of child rights implementation committees at national, state and local levels during the reporting period, the Committee remains concerned about the absence of a mechanism that can ensure that child rights are considered across all line ministries and that policies and programs are well-coordinated between national, state and local levels. It is also concerned about reports that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is not sufficiently resourced to effectively discharge, or prioritize, its child rights mandate. In this context, the Committee notes with appreciation the pending bill before the National Assembly which proposes the establishment of a Child Protection Agency, envisaged to function as the main coordinating body on children’s rights in the State party. 10. While noting with appreciation information on constructive engagement with traditional leaders (Sultans, Emirs and Chiefs) in the State party, the Committee is concerned, considering their critical importance at local level for the effective implementation of the Convention and the Child Rights Act, that at present these local authorities are not sufficiently engaged in the coordination and implementation of child rights policies at the local level. 11. The Committee, referring to its earlier recommendation (CRC/C/15/Add.257, para. 15), strongly recommends that the State party adopt the bill to establish a permanent Child Rights Agency at the earliest possible time and ensure that it be given a strong coordinating mandate, including inter-ministerial as well as intergovernmental coordination. The Committee furthermore strongly recommends that the State party identify strategies to formally engage traditional and religious leaders in ensuring implementation of the Convention rights at the local level. National Plan of Action 12. The Committee welcomes the adoption, in line with the Committee’s earlier recommendations (CRC/C/15/Add.257, para. 18), of the National Plan of Action on CRC/CRA 2009-2015 which “puts children first as a state policy” and which emphasizes health, education, and protection of children. While noting with appreciation that the State party is taking steps to implement and provide resources for the Action Plan, it is concerned that a results-oriented, gender-sensitive and evidence-based cost plan for the operationalization of the Action Plan remains a challenge. 13. The Committee recommends the State party to ensure effective implementation of the National Plan of Action on CRC/CRA 2009-2015, including by designing and implementing a cost plan with clear indicators and allocating adequate financial and human resources for its operationalization. Independent monitoring 14. The Committee reiterates its appreciation (CRC/C/15/Add.257, para. 20) of the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Child Rights within the Nigerian Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with the mandate to monitor and collect data on violations of 3