The Federal Government has sought the technical support of United States of America in its effort to eradicate the menace of child labour and provision of decent employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.
Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said the support could come through collaborative efforts between Nigeria and US Department of Labour.
A statement by Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director of Press in the Labour Ministry, said Ngige spoke Wednesday in his office when he received on working visit, the new Labour Attache, United States Embassy in Nigeria, Mirna Torres.
“We will continue to ask for collaboration from the government of the United States of America, nothing stops you from assisting us in building more schools as well as collaborate with us in the implementation of the school feeding and conditional cash transfer programme of President Muhammadu Buhari, which is aimed at bringing succour to the vulnerable group,” the minister said.
Ngige, who faulted the US’s report that Nigeria was involved in child soldiering in its fight against Boko Haram, insisted: “Nigeria does not recruit child soldiers, rather Nigeria is fighting Boko Haram terrorist group that captures children and use them as child soldier and shield to fight the Nigerian Army. We do not allow children to participate in the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) as well.
“Similarly, in the mining and agricultural sector, we have put in place centres that monitor report and discourage the use of children for mining. In view of these deliberate efforts of the Federal Government, there is a significant decline in child labour in Nigeria.
”As much as I don’t want to fault your data but I know it is over-blotted; nevertheless, it will spur us to put more efforts towards the eradication of child labour.
“Nigeria is a signatory to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 138 and 182 that prohibit child labour. Furthermore, Nigeria has not only ratified (ILO) Convention 138 and 182 but has domesticated them into laws, the review of which is currently before the National Assembly for enactment into law.”
Stephen Ocheni (Professor), Minister of State, Labour and Employment, attributed the reduction in child labour in Nigeria according to the 2016 child labour report as presented by the Labour Attache of the US, to the deliberate and coordinated efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He assured the envoy of the commitment of the Federal Government toward the eradication of child labour in the country.
Earlier, Torres stated that Nigeria had made progress and improvement in the fight against child labour.
“We see Nigeria having made modern advancement and has improved on the matter of child labour. The only thing I want to mention is if it is possible for us to work together in the future on the issues of inspections.
”We have not been able to receive much information as to the numbers of inspectors currently working in the Ministry, where they are deployed and the kind of inspections they carried out.
‘This is not aimed at critique but to know the kind of work Nigeria is doing and ensure we give you the credit,” he said.
