Tinubu Prioritizes Child Labour Eradication in Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared the elimination of child labour a national development priority, stating that it affects various sectors including education, poverty reduction, economic growth, food security, human capital development, and national security. This declaration was made 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), where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

The President emphasized that the federal government would intensify efforts to address the root causes of child labour, linking it to broader issues such as education and social protection. He highlighted the importance of education as a safeguard against child labour and mentioned initiatives like the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme aimed at improving school attendance.

Additionally, he noted the launch of the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria (2024-2030) in 2025 and the ongoing enforcement of the Child Rights Act.