NATIONAL POLICY ON CHILD LABOUR

A Policy mandates measures to eliminate child labour through laws, education, and social support. It targets children in hazardous work, employers, and families to protect young ones. This works to address root causes and provide safer alternatives.

What Is This Policy?

Nigeria's policy framework for eliminating all forms of child labour, particularly the worst forms, through a combination of legislation, awareness, social protection, and education interventions.

Who Does It Target?

Children under 18 in hazardous work or exploitative employment Employers in agriculture, domestic work, mining, and street trading Parents and guardians Schools and social welfare agencies

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Progressively eliminate child labour in Nigeria by addressing its root causes, strengthening enforcement of child protection laws, and providing economic alternatives for families.

Key Features

Prohibition of Worst Forms: Maintains zero tolerance for the worst forms of child labour including debt bondage, prostitution, and hazardous work. Social Protection Link: Integrates child labour elimination with social protection programmes targeting poor and vulnerable households. Education Access: Promotes school enrolment and retention as the primary alternative to child labour. Awareness Campaigns: Supports community-level campaigns to change attitudes and behaviours that tolerate child labour.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active - implemented through the Ministry of Labour, state governments, and ILO partnership Coverage: Nationwide Beneficiaries: Children in or at risk of child labour; families Funding: Federal Government; ILO and donor support

How to Access

Report suspected child labour to the Ministry of Labour and Employment or the police Employers must comply with minimum age employment laws Application method: Reports and complaints: contact the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Important Terms

Minimum working age is 15 years; minimum age for hazardous work is 18 years Child labour is a criminal offence under the Child Rights Act Employers found using child labour face prosecution

Official Resources

Website: https://www.labour.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment

Legal Framework

Operates under the Labour Act Cap L1 LFN 2004, the Child Rights Act 2003, the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, the Criminal Law, and ILO Convention No. 138 (Minimum Age) and ILO Convention No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour) ratified by Nigeria.