Nigeria Moves to Tackle Technology-Facilitated Child Labour in New Five-Year Plan

Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting

NIGERIA has strengthened its collaboration and efforts to eliminate child labour, with the ongoing validation of the Draft National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan (2026–2030) – a framework designed to address both traditional and emerging forms of child exploitation, including technology-facilitated child labour and labour migration-related abuses.

Speaking at a two-day validation workshop in Abuja, which brought together civil society organisations and development partners, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kamil Shoretire – represented by the Director of Inspectorate, Olaolu Olaitan – described the meeting as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to protecting children from exploitation and securing a better future for the next generation.

Mr Olaitan said findings from the 2022 National Child Labour Survey highlighted the urgent need for stronger interventions to address the root causes of child labour, including poverty, limited access to quality education, social exclusion and inadequate social protection systems.

He added that the Federal Government had demonstrated its commitment to ending child labour through the enactment of relevant laws, the development of policies and programmes, and the ratification of key International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions – particularly Convention 138 on the minimum age for employment and Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour.

The new policy and action plan, developed through extensive consultations with government agencies, employers, workers’ organisations, civil society groups, development partners and academics, will serve as a roadmap for coordinated national action over the next five years.

ILO: ‘A Whole-of-society Approach Is Needed’

The Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Vanessa Phala, commended the ministry and the National Steering Committee on the Elimination of Child Labour for reaching the validation stage.

Ms Phala, represented by the National Project Coordinator at ILO, Agatha Kolawale, noted that child labour remains a major global and regional challenge, depriving millions of children of their rights, education and future opportunities.

She said the policy, action plan and monitoring framework were built on lessons from the previous National Action Plan, the findings of the 2022 National Child Labour Survey and international frameworks – including ILO Conventions 138 and 182, the Marrakesh Roadmap, the African Union 10-Year Action Plan and the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan.

According to Ms Phala, the framework places strong emphasis on social protection, access to quality education, enforcement of labour laws, occupational safety and health, behavioural change, community engagement, improved data systems and emerging concerns such as digital child labour.

She emphasised that implementation would require adequate financing, strong institutional coordination, effective monitoring and sustained stakeholder engagement, while reaffirming the ILO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to translate the policy into tangible outcomes.

Ms Phala called for a whole-of-society approach involving governments, employers, workers, civil society organisations, communities and the private sector – particularly in addressing child labour within supply chains and the informal economy.

Policy Responds To Digital And Migration-related Risks

Providing insight into the development of the policy, consultant and resource person Ruth Ataguba said the document was produced through a participatory process involving the National Steering Committee, the ILO and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

She explained that the new policy responds to emerging realities, particularly the growing challenge of technology-facilitated child labour, where digital platforms can expose children to exploitation despite offering educational and developmental opportunities.

Ms Ataguba further disclosed that the policy also addresses labour migration concerns, including deceptive recruitment practices that lure individuals – especially young people – into non-existent employment opportunities. She noted that the document aligns with the Marrakesh Declaration and incorporates measures aimed at strengthening the protection of children’s rights and promoting fundamental principles and rights at work.

Stakeholders at the workshop expressed optimism that the final policy and action plan would provide a stronger framework for preventing and eliminating child labour, while advancing Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, which calls for the eradication of child labour in all its forms.