The Federal Government has called for technical assistance from the United States in eliminating child labour in the country.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, made the call in Abuja recently when he received in audience, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard.
Ngige said that the United States could assist the Government of Nigeria in establishing schools and clinics in places where child labour is endemic, noting that, such assistance would boost the efforts of government in tackling the malaise.
The Minister also called for logistic support, such as, the provision of vehicles to assist in labour inspections across the States.
Dr Ngige urged the United States Government to put in place empowerment programmes in those places with propensity for child labour to counter poverty, which is the cause of such practices, adding that the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act makes it compulsory for children to attend school, stating that it also has a punitive side to it that compels parents to enroll their children in school.
“As a country, we have adopted the ILO Convention on Child Labour, Forced Labour and the Child Rights Act. We have also set up a National Steering Committee on the provision of Child Labour, Human Trafficking and Slavery, and established State Steering Committees.” he informed
Charles Akpan
Deputy Director (Press and Public Relations)
