ILO supports the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Eliminating Worst forms of Child Labour in Nigeria

ABUJA (ILO News): The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMoLE) in its drive to eliminate child labour in Nigeria, has developed a robust National Reporting Template on the Elimination of Child Labour in collaboration with Trade Unions and Employers and key stakeholders with technical and financial support of the ILO. The reporting template facilitates systematic monitoring, evaluation, data collection and analysis for the National Action Plan on the elimination of Child Labour across Nigeria.

In the bid to effectively build the capacities of the Zonal Directors of Labour, State Controllers of Labour and the Child Labour Desk Officers (CLDOs), capacity building workshops on the application of the National Reporting Template was conducted in all the six Zonal Labour Offices.

The capacity building workshops which were conducted in the cities of Ibadan, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Lokoja and Gombe from the 26th February, 2018 to 30th March, 2018.Over 180 officials from various organisations participated in the workshops which were partly facilitated by the ILO Child Labour Focal Officer, Ms. Agatha Kolawole who led the technical session on the application of the reporting template.She emphasized the need for effective coordination by the Ministry of Labour and the State Steering Committees in ensuring the utilization of the reporting template by Stakeholders.. She also explained that the data to be collected was important and as it would inform evidence-based programming in the elimination of Child Labour in Nigeria.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, represented by Director Inspectorate Mr. Solomon Ajibola, noted in his keynote address and presentation, that the workshops were practical demonstrations of the Ministry`s determination to ensure that all stakeholders were sensitized on the substantive target set under Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that is, target 8.7 – which seeks to “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate Forced Labour, end Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking and secure the prohibition of Worst Forms of Child Labour, including the recruitment and the use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms”.

He directed that participants make effective use of the Reporting Template in various States and locations for data collection, analysis and reports on Child Labor especially as the National Report would inform the review of the Child Labour Policy and its National Action Plan (NAP) which expired in 2017.

Mr. Ajibola expressed appreciation for the support received by the International Labour Organization and other Stakeholders, and their diligence in the fight against Child Labour in Nigeria. He assured the participants of the Ministry’s commitment to strengthen the labour inspection services in the 36 State Labour Offices and the FCT.