The Federal Government has disclosed a concerning figure, indicating that approximately 43% of Nigerian children aged between five and 11 years are engaged in economic activities, including the most hazardous forms of child labour.
Daju Kachollom, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, led a road walk to the headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission on Monday to mark the observance of the 2023 World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL).
During the event, he emphasized the severity of child labor, affecting millions of young individuals worldwide.
She stated that child labour violates children’s rights to education, health, mental and moral growth.
The Permamen Secretary cited the 2016–2017 MICS Survey while stating that 39% of children engaged in child labour in dangerous industries such as mining, granite quarrying, commercial sexual exploitation, armed conflict and occasionally, become victims of trafficking.
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“These figures reflect the degree of urgency required by the various actors working on child labour to proffer solutions to the reduction and possible elimination of child labour in Nigeria and globally. The commitment of the Federal Government of in contributing to the global fight against child labour and its worst forms is evidenced in the following interventions, programmes, activities and partnerships:
“The adoption and ratification of ILO Conventions No. 138 and No. 182. Enactment of the Child Rights Act to domesticate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The 36 States of the Federation and the FCT have domesticated the Child Rights Act.
“Review of the National Policy on Child Labour and the National Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour. Development of the List of Hazardous Child Labour. Review of the Labour Act to mainstream Child Labour into the Labour Standards Bill which replaces the Labour, including the adoption of 15 years as the minimum age for employment among others.”
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Kachollom however noted that some of the hindrance to ending child labor in the country includes: poverty, cultural, religious factors, poor educational system, inadequate social protection systems and wrong perception of the negative effects of Child Labour.
She stated that the Ministry intends to keep working actively with pertinent stakeholders to create and carry out group initiatives that help end child labor.
Other plans according to Kachollom were to engage in advocacy interventions to encourage government at all levels and policymakers to enact and enforce laws that protects children from exploitation and ensures access to quality education.
She also stated that efforts were being made to help community-based groups and carry out programs aimed at preventing child labor, rehabilitating victims of child labor, and empowering households that are at risk of it.
