RismadarVoice Reporters
September 16, 2026
President Bola Tinubu has directed state governments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, employers, workers’ organisations, development partners and civil society groups to implement Nigeria’s National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour, covering 2026 to 2030.
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.
The President was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the SGF on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, Tinubu also described the elimination of child labour as a national development priority.
He said child labour was not only a labour-related concern but also had implications for education, poverty reduction, economic growth, food security, human capital development and national security.
“Every nation is judged by how well it protects its children,” the President said, stressing that children forced into labour lose opportunities associated with education and healthy development.
Tinubu said his administration would continue to strengthen labour inspection and administration systems, child protection mechanisms and interventions aimed at addressing poverty, unemployment, limited access to quality education and social exclusion.
He also launched the National Child Labour Survey (Labour Force Survey) 2024 Report and the National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour 2026–2030.
The President identified education as a key tool in the fight against child labour, noting that his administration was implementing measures focused on reducing the number of out-of-school children, improving education data, developing teachers and expanding skills acquisition.
He added that the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme would help improve school attendance while addressing hunger and nutritional challenges among children in vulnerable households.
Tinubu said the government was also working to strengthen social protection and household resilience through programmes including the NG-CARES Additional Financing Programme and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity Programme.
According to him, the initiatives are designed to expand economic opportunities and improve household livelihoods so that children are not forced to work to support their families.
The President further recalled that his administration launched the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria, covering 2024 to 2030, in 2025.
He said the government would continue to promote enforcement of the Child Rights Act and other child protection laws, while improving safety in schools, particularly in vulnerable and high-risk communities.
Tinubu also called on state governments to support the implementation of the National Action Plan and urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to promote child protection initiatives nationwide.
He charged employers to ensure their supply chains were free from child labour and called on workers’ unions, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, communities, parents and guardians to support efforts to protect children from exploitation.
The President described Nigeria’s status as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country as both a responsibility and an opportunity for the country to demonstrate leadership in eliminating child labour.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, International Labour Organisation, ECOWAS, European Union, the Netherlands, United States Department of Labour, World Bank, National Bureau of Statistics and members of the National Steering Committee on the Elimination of Child Labour for their contributions to the initiative.
“Nigeria must now move beyond commitment to action to ensure that every Nigerian child enjoys education, protection and a childhood free from exploitation,” Tinubu said.
