The federal government has called on the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), organised labour, and other stakeholders to redouble efforts to eliminate child labour in Nigeria.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2025 World Day Against Child Labour and a Special Children’s Conference.
The conference is themed, “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: Let’s speed up efforts.”
This day is observed globally every June 12.
Mr Dingyadi noted that a recent ILO, UNICEF report showed a global decline in child labour, from 160 million to 138 million, a positive trend that included Nigeria.
However, he cautioned, “Even one child in child labour is one too many.”
He urged reflection on a vision of a Nigeria where every child was learning, not labouring; playing, not toiling; dreaming, not drudging.
Addressing the children at the conference, he encouraged them to draft a powerful communiqué to influence government policy.
He assured them of the ministry’s support and invoked President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying, “Education is the most powerful weapon to break the cycle of poverty and child labour.”
Mr Dingyadi also acknowledged the contributions of the ILO, ECOWAS, NECA, NLC, TUC, and other ministries, affirming that “together, we are building a legacy of protection and opportunity for our children.”
ILO Director for Abuja, Vanessa Phala, highlighted the ongoing challenge, saying millions of Nigerian children remained in unsafe, exploitative, and hazardous work in spite of Nigeria being a signatory to international child-labour standards.
She noted the encouraging global decline of 22 million child labourers since 2020 and more than 100 million since 2000, even as the child population increased by 230 million in that span.
She said that the figures showed the need for sustained and accelerated action.
Ms Phala called on the National Assembly, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and stakeholders to expedite the passage of the reviewed Labour Standards Bill, aligning domestic law with international standards and promoting social justice.