President Bola Tinubu has declared the elimination of child labour a national development priority and directed government agencies and states to fully implement a new action plan aimed at tackling the menace.
Tinubu gave the directive 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). He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
At the event, the Federal Government launched the National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026–2030) alongside the 2024 National Child Labour Survey Report.
Tinubu said child labour goes beyond a labour issue, warning that it affects children’s education, health and future while also undermining poverty reduction, economic growth, food security, human capital development and national security.
The President directed ministries, departments and agencies, state governments, employers, workers’ organisations, development partners and civil society groups to ensure full implementation of the new plan.
He identified poverty, unemployment, limited access to quality education and social exclusion as some of the factors that push children into exploitative labour.
Tinubu also highlighted government programmes such as the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, NG-CARES and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme as part of efforts to address the conditions that force children into work.
He urged state governments, employers, traditional and religious leaders, parents and communities to support the implementation of the action plan and ensure that children are protected from exploitation.
The President said Nigeria must now move from commitments to concrete action to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to education, protection and a childhood free from exploitation.
