Eradication of child labour now national development priority – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared the elimination of child labour a national development priority, saying the menace goes beyond labour concerns to affect education, poverty reduction, economic growth, food security, human capital development and national security.

The President made the declaration 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).

The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said the federal government would intensify measures to address the root causes that force 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,” the President said.

The President said his administration would continue to strengthen labour administration and inspection systems, child protection mechanisms and interventions addressing poverty, unemployment, inadequate access to quality education and social exclusion.

He said the theme of the 2026 commemoration, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” underscored Nigeria’s determination to reject every form of child exploitation.

The President identified education as one of the strongest safeguards against child labour, noting that the administration was pursuing reforms targeting out-of-school children, education data, teacher development and skills acquisition.

He said the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme would further support school attendance while addressing hunger and nutritional challenges among children from vulnerable households.

He said the administration was also strengthening social protection and household resilience through initiatives including the NG-CARES Additional Financing Programme and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme, with the objective of expanding economic opportunities and ensuring that parents and caregivers earn decent livelihoods so children are not compelled to work for family survival.

The President recalled that his administration launched the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria (2024-2030) in 2025 and had continued to push for stronger enforcement of the Child Rights Act and other child protection laws, alongside measures to improve safety in schools, particularly in vulnerable and high-risk areas.

“As an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country, Nigeria accepts both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead by example. I am pleased that the National Child Labour Policy and the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026-2030), which we are launching today, provide a practical roadmap for translating our international commitments into measurable national action,” he said.

The President called on state governments to fully support implementation of the National Action 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 supply chains remain free of child labour and urged workers’ organisations, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, communities, parents and guardians to support the national effort.

The President launched the National Child Labour Survey (Labour Force Survey) 2024 Report and the National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026-2030), directing Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, employers, workers’ organisations, development partners and civil society organisations to ensure their full implementation.

He commended the 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 Nigeria’s efforts, stressing that the country must now move “beyond commitment to action” to ensure that every Nigerian child enjoys education, protection and a childhood free from exploitation.