A Call to Action: Let Us End Child Labour in Our Society
As we observe the World Day Against Child Labour, we are reminded of the stark reality facing millions of children in Nigeria today.
According to the Nigeria Child Labour Survey (2022), over 24.6 million Nigerian children aged 5 to 17 are currently engaged in child labour. This represents a staggering 39.2% of all children in that age group. Even more concerning is that 50.5% of children are involved in one form of economic activity or another—often under hazardous or exploitative conditions.
Despite important legal steps taken—such as the ratification of ILO Conventions 138 and 182, and the enactment of domestic laws like the Child’s Rights Act (2003), the Labour Act (2004), and the Trafficking in Persons Act (2015)—child labour remains widespread in Nigeria. The gap between policy and enforcement continues to undermine real progress.
Too many children are still:
- Denied their right to education
- Exploited for profit
- Forced to engage in dehumanising and unsafe labour
This is despite Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits forced and compulsory labour, and federal mandates for free and compulsory education.
On the streets of our cities and towns, we continue to see children hawking goods, working as domestic servants, or trafficked into forced labour—particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas. Insecurity, kidnappings, and insurgency, especially in the Northwest and North Central regions, have further worsened the situation by causing school closures and disrupting access to education.
Furthermore, recent international assessments indicate that Nigeria has made only minimal progress in eliminating the worst forms of child labour. Our current Labour Act does not cover self-employed children or those working in the informal economy—where most child labour takes place. Labour inspections remain ineffective in many sectors, and enforcement agencies are often under-resourced and overburdened.
We must ask ourselves:
What kind of future are we building if we allow our children to carry burdens meant for adults?
On this day, Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) calls for the following urgent actions:
- Full implementation of existing laws and policies, including the National Policy on Child Labour (2021–2025) and the official List of Hazardous Child Labour;
- Increased funding for child protection services, including a better-resourced labour inspection system capable of reaching the informal economy;
- Strengthened enforcement of the Child’s Rights Law in all states, particularly provisions prohibiting child labour, child trafficking, child marriage, and all forms of exploitation, as domestication alone has not translated into meaningful protection;
- Commitment from parents, guardians, and communities to ensure that children are in school and shielded from economic and sexual exploitation;
- Private sector accountability, including child labour risk assessments across supply chains and a shift toward child-friendly labour practices.
Let us remember that Section 1 of the Child’s Rights Act makes it clear:
The best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration in all actions concerning the child.
Our children deserve protection. They deserve education. They deserve a future filled with hope and opportunity—not hardship, exploitation, or neglect.
The Time to Act Is Now
Let us unite—government, civil society, private sector, parents, and communities—to end child labour in Nigeria.
Let us make the elimination of child labour not just a goal, but a national priority.
Signed,
Funmi Falana, SAN
Founder and Chairperson
Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA)