The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Friday in Geneva, Switzerland, called on the Federal Government to evolve proactive measures and policies that would eliminate child labour in Nigeria.
Mr Ayuba Wabba, President of the congress, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the World Day Against Child Labour in Geneva.
NAN reports that June 12 every year is set aside to mark the World Day Against Child Labour. The theme of this year’s event is entitled: “No To Child Labour-Yes to Quality Education.”
Wabba said as Nigeria also joined the rest of the world to mark the Day, it was important for the country to conform to the International standards as laid down by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
“This, therefore, means that we must also conform to International labour standard since there is already an instrument that is in place that will actually guide our action and inaction in that respect.
“Specifically, I am aware that precarious conditions which include child labour prevails in Nigeria and is one issue that has been a major concern.
“We have raised this issue over time, most especially in making sure that we have labour inspectors that would be able to inspect those factories working through the sectorial unions to be able to address those issues we remain committed to that.”
NAN reports that ILO has estimated over 168 million children are in child labour in the year 2015 with 120 million of them aged five to 14, and with boys and girls affected.
He said that Nigeria was a signatory to the ILO convention on Child Labour and must abide by the rules and regulation of the convention.
Wabba gave the assurance that the Labour movement would continue to creat awareness on the issue of Child Labour and would also proffer solutions on how the country would to confront it.
He said that both Nigeria and Cameroon that were also affected by the child labour practice, adding that it was an issue that both countries must confront head long.
The NLC boss said economic challenges should not be use as an excused to continue to violate the right of a child as it concern child labour.
He said that people needed to devise other means to augment their sources of income.
“Therefore, in most cases, you will find out in our streets, basically major cities, that child labour is an issue that has become endemic.
“We should not celebrate all of these because it is against the normal global practice, therefore, we remain committed working together to address those issues.”
Wabba said that the labour movement was committed to eliminating child labour and other enormous precarious working conditions that were at variance to international best practises.
In a separate interview with NAN, Mr Bobie Kaigama, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), urged President Muhammadu Buhari administration to implement sound educational policies contained in the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kaigama said that such policies could help to eradicate child labour activities in the country and urged the administration to also ensure that it signed all the relevant Child Labour Protocols.
Also speaking with NAN, Mrs Oyinkan Olasanoye, Chairperson, TUC Women Commission, also urged the Federal Government to make education free at primary and secondary level.
She said the measure would reduce street hawking, children molestation, child labour and other social vices in the country. (NAN)