NLC wants proactive measures against child labour in Nigeria

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), weekend, in Ge- neva, Switzer- land, called on the Federal Government to evolve proactive measures and policies that would eliminate child labour in Nigeria.

Ayuba Wabba, president of the congress, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sideline of the World Day Against Child Labour in Geneva.

June 12 every year is set aside to mark the World Day Against Child Labour. The theme of this year’s event is entitled: “No To Child Labour-Yes to Quality Education.’’

Wabba said as Nigeria also joined the rest of the world to mark the day, it was important for the country to conform to the international standards as laid down by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“This, therefore, means that we must also conform to International labour stan- dard since there is already an instrument that is in place that will actually guide our action and inaction in that respect.

“Specifically, I am aware that precarious conditions which include child labour prevails in Nigeria and is one issue that has been a major concern.

“We have raised this is- sue over time, most espe- cially in making sure that we have labour inspectors that would be able to in- spect those factories work- ing through the sectorial unions to be able to address those issues we remain com- mitted to that,’’ Wabba said.

ILO has estimated over 168 million children are in child labour in the year 2015, with 120 million of them aged five to 14, and with boys and girls affected.

He said Nigeria was a sig- natory to the ILO convention on Child Labour and must abide by the rules and regu- lation of the convention, and gave the assurance that the Labour movement would continue to creat awareness on the issue of Child Labour and would also proffer solu- tions on how the country would to confront it.