Nigeria: Tinubu orders implementation of 2026-2030 plan against child labor

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered federal ministries, agencies, and state governments on Wednesday, September 16, to fully implement the national plan for the elimination of child labor for the period 2026-2030, which was presented in Abuja during a national dialogue.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the head of state has made the elimination of child labor a national development priority. Akume also officially presented the 2024 report of the national child labor survey, along with the policy and action plan covering the 2026-2030 period.

The plan aims to strengthen labor administration, inspections, and child protection mechanisms, while addressing poverty, unemployment, insufficient access to quality education, and social exclusion. Tinubu also urged employers to ensure that there is no child labor in their supply chains.

Labor and Employment Minister Muhammad Dingyadi cited agriculture, mining, domestic work, street trading, and construction as sectors where children remain exposed to hazardous activities. The government claims it aims to enhance the enforcement of the Labour Act, the Child Rights Act, and international conventions related to child labor.

The 2026-2030 plan was validated in June by the National Steering Committee on the Elimination of Child Labor, with support from the International Labour Organization. The previous national statistical benchmark, the 2022 survey, estimated that approximately 24.7 million children were engaged in child labor, with over 14 million involved in hazardous activities.

The International Labour Organization indicated in August that the national report for 2024 was validated on July 21 in Abuja by more than 140 representatives from the state, employers, trade unions, civil society, and development partners to provide updated data for targeted interventions.