The International Labour Organization (ILO) on Tuesday called for stronger enforcement of laws protecting children from labour.
Ms Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, made the call at the sixth edition of the National Children’s Conference in Abuja.
The conference was organised to commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour.
She urged the Federal Government and stakeholders to move beyond awareness and translate existing commitments, laws and policies into concrete action to eliminate child labour.
“Nigeria has laws and policies at the federal, state and community levels. We are not short of policies.
“What we need is to reinforce our collective action to implement these policies so that we can begin to see the expected results,” she said.
Phala said poverty and hardship placed pressure on families, urging stakeholders to strengthen social protection, quality education and decent livelihoods to reduce child labour.
The country director said childhood should be about learning, playing, discovering talents, building friendships and developing dreams, rather than engaging in harmful work.
“Our message today must be very clear: no child should have to choose between survival and education.
“No child should be exploited for profit. No child should be silenced by fear, and no child should be left behind,” she said.
Phala said children should be treated as important partners in developing solutions to child labour, rather than merely beneficiaries of government programmes.
“We can move from commemoration to action,” Phala said, adding that the Marrakech Action Plan would be translated into tangible activities to deliver progress.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting children from labour exploitation.
Shoretire said every child deserved a safe environment, education and opportunities to learn, play, develop talents and pursue future aspirations.
“Children belong in schools. Children belong in safe environments and safe spaces where they can learn, grow, play and dream,” he said.
He said the government was working with relevant ministries, agencies, state governments, development partners and civil society organisations to eliminate child labour.
Shoretire said the government would address factors pushing children into labour while strengthening protection against hazardous and exploitative work.
He urged children to speak about challenges affecting them and suggested practical measures government, parents, schools and communities could adopt.
“Your voice has value, and we cherish it. I also want you to know that the government is listening,” the permanent secretary said.
Shoretire said children were rights-holders whose voices and experiences should inform policies and programmes affecting their development.
“Your education matters to us. Your safety matters. Your happiness matters to us. And we assure you that no child will be left behind,” he said.
Also, Dr Alves Gorge, Head of Social Affairs Division, ECOWAS, said the Economic Community of West African States had developed strategies and action plans to combat child labour across West Africa.
He said ECOWAS would strengthen regional efforts, laws and instruments against child labour while tackling poverty, which he identified as a major driver.
Some children participating in the conference urged the government to strengthen child labour data collection and establish reliable systems for identifying and monitoring children at risk.
They also called for stronger measures to ensure vulnerable children remained in school and were protected from exploitation.
The World Day Against Child Labour is an ILO-sanctioned day first inaugurated in 2002 to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labour. It was spurred by ratifications of ILO Convention No. 138 on the minimum age for employment and ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour.
The day, held every year on June 12, is intended to foster the worldwide movement against child labour.
