Nigeria prioritises ending child labour by 2030
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In Abuja, Nigeria, the Federal Government declared eliminating child labour a national priority, connecting it to improvements in education, economic growth, and social welfare.
Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced the government will strengthen labour administration and child protection systems. He specifically urged state governments, employers, parents, and communities to support the implementation of a new National Action Plan.
Akume formally launched the National Child Labour Survey Report, the National Policy on Child Labour, and the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour 2026 to 2030, framing them as tools to meet international goals like Sustainable Development Goal 8.7. Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, the Minister of Labour and Employment, noted that a recent survey revealed millions of Nigerian children are still working, often in dangerous conditions.
Dingyadi identified agriculture, mining, domestic service, street trading, and construction as sectors where child labour and exploitation are common. The government intends to enforce existing laws like the Labour Act and the Child Rights Act, along with international labour standards. Dr Vanessa Phala, the ILO Country Director for Nigeria and three other West African nations, stressed that ending child labour requires coordinated effort and reliable data to track progress.
