Legal, social and economic implications of single parenting

Single parenthood is on the increase, not only in Nigeria but globally. There are various reasons for becoming a single parent. They may be by divorce, separation, choice, widowhood, abandonment to name but a few. Single parenthood has enormous legal, social and economic impact not just on the affected person and the family but also on the wider society. The legal implications involve the issue of child contact, support and maintenance. Unfortunately these are all provided for under the Matrimonial Causes Act as ancillary relief. No application can be brought independent of a divorce proceeding. The single parent outside the Marriage Act and the customary law suffers more. The only way of relief currently is the Child Rights Act which many are very ignorant of. The society needs to take pro-active action to protect these single parents and their families by way of new instruments which are wide enough to cover the welfare of every single child and ensure there is no discrimination based on circumstances of birth. The era of free ride where children are abandoned without adequate provision should be over.