By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to eliminate child labour by tackling poverty, unemployment and the out-of-school children crisis identified as major factors pushing children into exploitative work.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the National Dialogue on Advancing the Implementation of Nigeria’s National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan (2026–2030), where he launched the 2024 National Child Labour Survey Report.
According to a statement signed by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Media and Publicity, Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume said eliminating child labour had become a national development priority.
The President said child labour was not merely a labour issue, but one closely linked to education, poverty reduction, economic growth, food security, human capital development and national security.
He said the Federal Government would strengthen labour administration and inspection systems, child protection mechanisms and social interventions aimed at addressing poverty, unemployment, inadequate access to quality education and social exclusion.
Tinubu identified education as one of the strongest safeguards against child labour, saying his administration was implementing reforms targeting out-of-school children, education data, teacher development and skills acquisition.
He also highlighted the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, NG-CARES Additional Financing Programme and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme as measures aimed at improving school attendance, strengthening household resilience and expanding economic opportunities for vulnerable families.
The President subsequently launched the National Child Labour Survey (Labour Force Survey) 2024 Report and the National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026–2030).
He directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, employers, workers’ organisations, development partners and civil society organisations to ensure full implementation of the new action plan.
Tinubu also urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to champion child protection initiatives across the states, while calling on employers to ensure their supply chains remain free of child labour.
He said Nigeria’s designation as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country provided an opportunity for the country to demonstrate leadership in the global campaign against child labour.
The President stressed that Nigeria must move “beyond commitment to action” to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to education, protection and a childhood free from exploitation.
