An Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission team has noted that the collaboration between the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its social partners, is critical to the elimination of child labour from the country.

The preliminary observation follows a series of peer review workshops and field visits held within 11 days in Abuja, Ondo and Lagos States with the aim of observing Nigeria's efforts to eliminate child labour for the adoption of best practices around the West Africa region and beyond.

Speaking at the concluding part of the ‘ECOWAS National Consultation and Peer Review’ at the NECA House, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday 10 November 2022, Abdul Kareem Conteh, a member of the ECOWAS Commission Team and the Acting Director of the Occupational Health and Safety, Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), and Head of the Child Labour Unit of the Min in Sierra-Leone, observed the synergy between multiple partners across local, state and federal levels, as the country's competitive advantage over the scourge.

According to Conteh, the institutional structure for the elimination of child labour in Nigeria, which consists of a Community Child Labour Monitoring Committee (CCLMC), State Steering Committees on the Elimination of Child Labour (SSCECL) and the National Steering Committee on the Elimination of Child Labour, provides a multi faceted approach involving stakeholders across governance and social levels.

In addition, the ECOWAS Commission representative, who noted the provision of budgeting lines for the elimination of child labour through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FML&E), further highlighted the need to expand Nigeria’s ongoing school feeding programme to increase child participation in schools and reduce vulnerabilities.

The series of interactions in Nigeria began at the UN House, Abuja on 1 November 2022, with a Knowledge Sharing Workshop facilitated by the ILO, through the framework of the Dutch Government funded ACCEL Africa Project.

In Abuja, the ECOWAS Commission team consisting of - Elizabeth Akanbombire (reviewer), Abdul Kareem Conteh (reviewer), Abimbola Oyelohunu (ECOWAS), Agatha Kolawole(ILO), John Ogwuche(ECOWAS), Theresa Odoh(FMLE) and Dennis Ejeh (FMLE), met with representatives of trade unions, civil society, and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to observe Nigeria's policy documents and legal frameworks regarding child labour.

Explaining the existing monitoring mechanisms for the elimination of child labour from Nigeria, Barrister Theresa Odoh, the Head of the Child Labour Unit and representative of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment at the peer review, noted the presence of a National Reporting Template and child labour specific inspections by child labour desk officers in all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In addition, a child labour reporting mobile application and a website, both to serve as a data hub and facilitate timely responses to child labour challenges around the country are being developed.

Similarly, an engagement with social partners in Ondo State was held at Bliss World, Ijapo Estate on 7 November, with field visits to Fagbo 1 and Bamikemo focal communities of the ACCEL Africa Project in the state on 8 November 2022.

During the field visit, members of the CCLMC comprising community leaders, traditional rulers, clerics and residents of the cocoa producing communities were consulted on reformed practices over time, their challenges and plans to sustain the momentum against child labour at the end of the ACCEL Africa Project.

At the Fagbo Skills Acquisition Centre, the team interacted with trainees and trainers on the structure, profitability, length and certifications for the different livelihood support skills trainings available.

The reviewers searchers also interacted with the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Princess, Julianah Osadahun, who highlighted ongoing efforts by the government to scale up social protection for children, and called for an expansion of the ACCEL Africa Project beyond the 431 skills and livelihood equipment beneficiaries empowered in September, after a series of Start Your Business (SYB) and Mentorship trainings for identified vulnerable persons.

The Commissioner further noted a surge in the level of awareness on the dangers of child labour among children in the state, stating that some victims now present themselves to the State’s welfare home for protection.

Leading a tour of the Ministry, Commissioner Osadahun revealed a constructed and fully equipped skills acquisition centre provided by TOTAL through their CSR. The Commissioner also disclosed the plan of the Ministry to revive the Ondo State Children’s Parliament to promote child participation on issues concerning them. She noted that the children are the best child protection advocates.

Speaking on the preliminary observations in Akure, Elizabeth Akanbombire - the representative of the Honourable Minister for Employment and Labour Relations of Ghana, identified the Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) strategy of the ACCEL Africa Project as a good practice worth emulating.

According to Akanbombire, improved monitoring systems, periodic reviews of action plans, community registers, a harmonised data system and a fully operational hazardous activity framework will improve efforts to eliminate child labour from Nigeria.

In Lagos, the team also interacted with trade unions, civil society organizations and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on 10 November 2022 for wider consultations on national, state level and community level efforts to end child labour.
On Friday 11 November, the team of researchers met with the Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Dr Folasade Adefisayo for a final round of interactions on efforts to eliminate child labour from the State.

According to the Commissioner, tLagos state provides total free tuition free students from primary to senior secondary school level. The state also pays ofr WAEC fees. he Eko Excel programme, Comprehensive School programme, free tuition through secondary school.

The, Eko Excel programme, Comprehensive School programme, Alternative High School for Girls, vocational studies for special needs children, and the Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) are some of the efforts by the Lagos State Government to manage the rate of out of school children, ensure quality education, reduce child labour, promote employability and alleviate poverty.

Commissioner Adefisayo further cited collaborations between the Lagos State Ministry of Education and the Lagos State Ministry of Justice on: a Comprehensive School Policy, Inclusive Education Policy, Special Education Policy, Quality Assurance Act and a Private Public Partnership (PPP) as recent efforts to strengthen legal, policy and institutional frameworks necessary to ensure sustainability of the State’s educational interventions end child labour.

With 15 million children in Nigeria under child labour and half that number trapped in hazardous work, the ILO, its tripartite partners and a wide range of stakeholders have consistently improved policy, legal and institutional frameworks, while providing innovative and evidence based solutions that address the root causes of child labour.

Currently, Nigeria has a population of 15 million children in child labour, with half that number trapped in hazardous work. 

The final report of the ECOWAS Commission on the peer review which is expected in the coming weeks will provide more insights on Nigeria's interventions in the elimination of child labour and how it relates with the implementation of ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour (2021), and the National/ States Action Plan and State Action Plans on the elimination of child labour.