The Federal Government urged state governors to take proactive measures against child labour and forced labour within their jurisdictions, emphasizing the prevalence of these issues at the state and local levels.
This call was made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, during the launch of the Nigeria Child Labour and Forced Labour Survey Report 2022 in Abuja.
The survey, conducted in April 2022, aimed to enhance data collection on forced labour and child labour to inform policy decisions and interventions geared towards their eradication in Nigeria.
The minister highlighted global statistics revealing the widespread nature of child labour and forced labour, particularly affecting 160 million children globally and approximately 25 million adults and children involved in forced labour, including within global supply chains.
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Onyejeocha stressed the importance of the survey report as a crucial tool for generating verifiable data to guide policy formulation and innovative solutions at the state and local government levels.
She called for concerted efforts and commitment from state governments to combat these issues, emphasizing that the prevalence of child labour and forced labour is more pronounced at subnational levels.
Furthermore, the minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to formulating effective policies to address the root causes of child labour while underscoring the necessity for collaborative action among stakeholders at all levels.
The minister reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7, which aims to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery, and eliminate child labour in all forms by 2025.
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In conclusion, Onyejeocha emphasized the urgency for collective efforts to utilize the insights from the survey report and drive policy actions that will lead to the elimination of child labour and forced labour in Nigeria, aligning with the broader objectives of sustainable economic growth and decent work as outlined in SDG 8.