Follow Us on Google
President Bola Tinubu has declared the elimination of child labour a national development priority, directing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and state governments to fully implement the National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour, 2026–2030.
Tinubu said child labour was no longer an issue that could be treated solely as a labour concern, warning that its consequences extended to education, poverty reduction, economic growth, food security, human capital development and national security.
The President spoke 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 and the new five-year action plan.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, the President said the Federal Government would intensify efforts to tackle the root causes that push children into exploitative labour.
“Every nation is judged by how well it protects its children. A child who is forced into labour instead of attending school loses more than an education. That child loses opportunities, confidence, health and the chance to fully contribute to national development.
“For this reason, the Federal Government considers the elimination of child labour not merely as a labour issue, but as a national development priority. It is linked to education, social protection, economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, human capital development and national security,” he said.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, President Tinubu said his administration would strengthen labour administration and inspection systems, child protection mechanisms and programmes designed to address poverty, unemployment, inadequate access to quality education and social exclusion.
He identified education as one of the strongest safeguards against child labour, saying the administration was implementing reforms targeting out-of-school children, education data, teacher development and skills acquisition.
According to him, the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme would also help improve school attendance while tackling hunger and malnutrition among children from vulnerable households.
The President linked the fight against child labour to the economic wellbeing of families, saying the government was strengthening social protection and household resilience through programmes including the NG-CARES Additional Financing Programme and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme.
He said the initiatives were aimed at expanding economic opportunities and helping parents and caregivers secure decent livelihoods, thereby reducing situations where children are forced to work to support family survival.
Other News
Tinubu also recalled the launch of the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria (2024–2030) in 2025, saying his administration had continued to push for stronger enforcement of the Child Rights Act and other child protection laws.
He added that measures were being taken to improve safety in schools, particularly in vulnerable and high-risk areas.
The President said Nigeria’s status as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country placed an additional responsibility on the country to demonstrate concrete progress in eliminating child labour.
“As an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country, Nigeria accepts both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead by example,” he said.
He described the newly launched National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026–2030) as a practical roadmap for translating Nigeria’s international commitments into measurable national action.
Tinubu called on state governments to support the implementation of the plan, while urging the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to champion child protection initiatives across the country.
He also charged employers to ensure their supply chains were free of child labour and called on workers’ organisations, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, communities, parents and guardians to support the national campaign.
The President subsequently launched the National Child Labour Survey (Labour Force Survey) 2024 Report alongside the 2026–2030 National Policy and National Action Plan, directing all relevant stakeholders to ensure their full implementation.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, International Labour Organisation, ECOWAS, European Union, Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, United States Department of Labor, World Bank, National Bureau of Statistics and members of the National Steering Committee on the Elimination of Child Labour for supporting the initiative.
Tinubu said Nigeria must now move “beyond commitment to action”, stressing that every Nigerian child should have access to education, protection and a childhood free from exploitation.
