Abuja: The Federal Government has declared the elimination of child labour a national development priority, linking it to education, social protection, economic growth, and human capital development. Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made this announcement during a National Dialogue on implementing Nigeria’s National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Akume emphasized that the government would strengthen labour administration, improve inspection systems, and enhance child protection mechanisms while addressing poverty, unemployment, and inadequate access to quality education. He stated, “Every child belongs in school, not in hazardous workplaces. Every child deserves protection, not exploitation.” Akume also urged state governments to support the implementation of the National Action Plan and called on employers to ensure their supply chains remained free from child labour.
Akume further encouraged parents and guardians to keep children in school, while calling on workers’ organizations, communities, and other stakeholders to promote decent work and social justice. He noted that the policy and action plan provided a roadmap for translating Nigeria’s international commitments, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, into measurable national action. During the event, Akume formally unveiled the 2024 National Child Labour Survey Report, National Policy on Child Labour, and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour 2026-2030.
In addition, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, highlighted that child labour remained a major obstacle to human dignity, social justice, and sustainable development, depriving children of education and opportunities. Dingyadi indicated that findings from the National Child Labour Survey showed that millions of children remained engaged in labour, with many exposed to hazardous work in several sectors such as agriculture, mining, domestic service, street trading, and construction. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enforcing the Labour Act, Child Rights Act, and relevant international labour standards, particularly ILO Conventions 138 and 182.
Dingyadi explained that the reviewed National Policy on Child Labour and National Action Plan 2026-2030 provided a comprehensive framework for prevention, protection, enforcement, rehabilitation, and accountability. He stressed that “ending child labour cannot be achieved by government alone. It requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.”
Earlier, Dr Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, stated that the dialogue provided an opportunity to translate Nigeria’s commitments into tangible action against child labour. Phala described child labour as both a child protection and labour-market challenge, with poverty, vulnerability, inadequate education, weak social protection, and limited livelihood opportunities among its major drivers. She called for stronger accountability, institutions, and reliable data to monitor implementation, emphasizing the need for decent work and economic empowerment to help families keep children out of labour.
Phala urged stakeholders to ensure that the National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan became “living instruments of change” as Nigeria works towards eliminating child labour by 2030.