Clement Urieto

Child Labour In Nigeria Child labour in Nigeria is said to have been in vogue for ages. Children are used as hawkers, house help, bus conductors, hotel and restaurant attendant, car washes, while some are selling on the street; children have become the automatic choices of employers for cheap labour. They work more but get a lesser pay. Working Circumstances of Child Labourers: Child labour presents a stern view of the socio-economic situation of a vast section of our increasing population. They work daily to support the family. When they work under such hazardous conditions, they live a life of a perpetual state of unhappiness, frustration, and a tale of deprivation. Longing starts to set in, and such a situation results in a crime. Significant Causes: Over-population, neglect from parents, poverty, and social and political callousness that promises to reward them turn them into child labourers. Effect of Child Labour: It is a heinous social offence to engage in child labour. Such evil practice is carried out only by a diseased society. Children are born to survive, be trained, live, and bloom freely. Child labour is a threat to humanity and society at large. The Negative Effect Of Child Labour:  Child labour is a significant setback in the social-economic development of a nation.  Children will be deprived of proper education when engaged in economic activities.  Child labour has adverse effects on the health of the child. Engagement in street hawking enslaved people in homes of individuals, factories, hotels several times leads to incurable diseases. They could get kidnapped, especially at times like this when the security situation in Nigeria is at its worst level. The many adverse effects of child labour can not be over-emphasized; hence, this malpractice needs to be urgently addressed and stopped. Children under this condition are not able to enjoy their childhood. Prevention:  Birth Control: Families should be guided and encouraged to give birth to the number of Children they can train.  Create Awareness: Parents should know of the evil associated with child labour. Keeping their children out of school exposes them to traffickers who prey on children for their selfish interests.  Stringent Laws By The Government: Policymaking is necessary to obtain a long-lasting change, and lobbying for better laws demonstrates how change can bring considerable benefits. Driving such policy level change requires some relationship from stakeholders in the fight against child labour.  Encourage More Children To Go To School : Nigeria is the largest country in Africa, yet lots of her children are out of school, especially in the Northern Region. Nigeria’s government should implement laws that mandate or encourage parents to send their children to school. Conclusion: Initiatives from civil society have given lots of children the means of living dignified life, and as such, they can cherish every moment of childhood. NGOs have forged a strong relationship with government, international and national bodies on making child rights a “movement .”The fight for child labour requires a multi-pronged push. Government officials can institute police, but we must not fail to address everyday child abuse, and malnourishment should also be attacked at the individual level, wherever possible.