ILO and Nigeria Launch National Child Labour Policy
The Federal Government of Nigeria with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a National Policy on Child Labour.
26 August 2014
Abuja (ILO News): The Federal Government of Nigeria with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched a National Policy on Child Labour. Together with the National Policy, other publications were also launched including National Action Plan for Elimination of Child Labour (2013-2017), List of Hazardous Child Labour in Nigeria, Ogun State Action Plan for Elimination of Child Labour in Nigeria 2014-2017, Oyo State Action Plan for Elimination of Child Labour in Nigeria 2014-2017, and Good Practice Report – Eliminating the Worst Forms of Child Labour and Strengthening Sub-regional Cooperation Through ECOWAS.
In his speech during the launching ceremony, the Honorable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu said that the policy, which was approved the previous year by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has demonstrated the government’s determination to eliminate child labour in the country and provide Nigerian children a future where they can hope to be productive citizens.
Honorable Minister Wogu also highlighted efforts that were taken to address related issues that fuel child labour: “The massive employment of youth and women through the Community Services Women and Youth Empowerment (CSWYE) scheme of the SURE-P has reduced drastically the high level of poverty in rural communities in Nigeria where child labour strives most. The CSWYE programme is a critical strategy for fighting poverty, especially rural poverty, which has fuelled child labour and child trafficking in the country."
The Director, ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Ms Sina Chuma-Mkandawire pointed out that the policy marked an important milestone in the fight against the worst forms of child labour in Nigeria following the ratification of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour. “It leaves me with no doubt that we have gained the necessary momentum and commitment for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour”. She further urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to ratify the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers (C.189) which also aims to protect children from being exploited domestically.
The national policy and action plan on child labour are the products of a consultative process among different stakeholders who are engaged in activities geared towards eliminating the worst forms of child labour in the country. The policy will help every stakeholder to operate in its area of comparative advantage. It will also facilitate building synergy and effective coordination as well as eliminate duplication of interventions by MDAs.
In his speech during the launching ceremony, the Honorable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu said that the policy, which was approved the previous year by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has demonstrated the government’s determination to eliminate child labour in the country and provide Nigerian children a future where they can hope to be productive citizens.
Honorable Minister Wogu also highlighted efforts that were taken to address related issues that fuel child labour: “The massive employment of youth and women through the Community Services Women and Youth Empowerment (CSWYE) scheme of the SURE-P has reduced drastically the high level of poverty in rural communities in Nigeria where child labour strives most. The CSWYE programme is a critical strategy for fighting poverty, especially rural poverty, which has fuelled child labour and child trafficking in the country."
The Director, ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Ms Sina Chuma-Mkandawire pointed out that the policy marked an important milestone in the fight against the worst forms of child labour in Nigeria following the ratification of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour. “It leaves me with no doubt that we have gained the necessary momentum and commitment for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour”. She further urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to ratify the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers (C.189) which also aims to protect children from being exploited domestically.
The national policy and action plan on child labour are the products of a consultative process among different stakeholders who are engaged in activities geared towards eliminating the worst forms of child labour in the country. The policy will help every stakeholder to operate in its area of comparative advantage. It will also facilitate building synergy and effective coordination as well as eliminate duplication of interventions by MDAs.