ABUJA: President Bola Tinubu has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs, as well as state governments, employers, workers’ organisations, development partners and civil society organisations to ensure the full implementation of the National Child Labour Survey (Labour Force Survey) 2024 Report alongside the National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026-2030)
The president, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator George Akume, made the declaration 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
Special Adviser to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga who disclosed this in a statement said the president also declared the elimination of child labour a national development priority, stating that the menace extends beyond labour concerns to threaten education, poverty reduction, economic growth, food security, human capital development and national security
“Every nation is judged by how well it protects its children A child who is forced into labour instead of attending school loses more than an education. That child loses opportunities, confidence, health and the chance to fully contribute to national development.
“For this reason, the Federal Government considers the elimination of child labour not merely as a labour issue, but as a national development priority It is linked to education, social protection, economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, human capital development and national security,” Tinubu said.
The president noted that the theme of the 2026 commemoration, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” underscored Nigeria’s determination to reject every form of child exploitation, and vowed that his administration would continue to strengthen labour administration and inspection systems, child protection mechanisms and interventions addressing poverty, unemployment, inadequate access to quality education and social exclusion
Tinubu subsequently launched the National Child Labour Survey (Labour Force Survey) 2024 Report alongside the National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026-2030), directing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), state governments, employers, workers’ organisations, development partners and civil society organisations to ensure their full implementation
He identified education as one of the strongest safeguards against child labour, noting that the administration was pursuing reforms targeting out-of-school children, education data, teacher development and skills acquisition, and that the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme would further support school attendance while addressing hunger and nutritional challenges among children from vulnerable households
The President said the administration was also strengthening social protection and household resilience through initiatives including the NG-CARES Additional Financing Programme and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme, with the objective of expanding economic opportunities and ensuring that parents and caregivers earn decent livelihoods so children are not compelled to work for family survival
Tinubu recalled that his administration launched the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria (2024-2030) in 2025, and said it had continued to push for stronger enforcement of the Child Rights Act and other child protection laws, alongside measures to improve safety in schools, particularly in vulnerable and high-risk areas
“As an Alliance 87 Pathfinder Country, Nigeria accepts both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead by example. I am pleased that the National Child Labour Policy and the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026-2030), which we are launching today, provide a practical roadmap for translating our international commitments into measurable national action,” he said.
The President called on state governments to fully support implementation of the National Action Plan, while urging the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to champion child protection initiatives across the country
He also charged employers to ensure supply chains remain free of child labour and urged workers’ organisations, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, communities, parents and guardians to support the national effort
Tinubu commended the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), European Union (EU), Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, United States Department of Labor, World Bank, National Bureau of Statistics and members of the National Steering Committee on the Elimination of Child Labour for supporting Nigeria’s efforts
“Nigeria must now move beyond commitment to action to ensure that every Nigerian child enjoys education, protection and a childhood free from exploitation,” he said