Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor
The Government of Nigeria became a member of ILO-IPEC in2000.[3239] The government participated in the implementation of a USDOL-funded ILO-IPECnational program to eliminate child labor[3240]and in a USDOL-funded ILO-IPEC regional project to combat the trafficking ofchildren.[3241] The Nigerian Federal Office of Statistics is completing a USDOL-funded nationalchild labor survey with technical assistance from ILO-IPEC.[3242] The government is participating in a program funded by USDOL and the CocoaGlobal Issues Group that will seek to withdraw children from hazardous work inthe cocoa sector, provide income generation and economic alternatives, andpromote education.[3243]
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Developmenthas developed a National Plan of Action on child trafficking, and exploitation[3244]and, as a member state of the Economic Community of West African States adopteda regional Plan of Action against trafficking in Human Beings in December 2001.[3245] In addition, the USAID-supported Sustainable Tree Crops Program isincorporating elements into its program and is coordinating with theUSDOL-funded ILO-IPEC program to address child labor in cocoa sector.[3246] In July 2002, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and nationalresearch collaborators completed a study of child labor in the cocoa industryin Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria.[3247] The Government of Nigeria is working with the Global Program againstTrafficking in Human Beings of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to strengthenanti-trafficking efforts. The UN Office is providing technical assistance inareas such as research, law enforcement training, and the creation of regionalanti-trafficking networks.[3248] The government supports school-based child rights clubs, and, through the humantrafficking unit of the Nigerian Immigration Service, also sponsors informationcampaigns on trafficking.[3249] With involvement of the government, UN agencies, and civil societies, IOM isleading an awareness-raising project against trafficking.[3250]
In July 2003, UNICEF announced its intention to cooperatewith the government to ensure equal access to education for girls.[3251] UNICEF also works to improve enrollment and retention in primary school byfocusing on improved teaching and learning practices.[3252] In September 2002, the Government of Nigeria was approved to receive USD 101million in funding from the World Bank to support the Universal Basic EducationProject, which will improve the quality of schools, work to increase access toeducation, and strengthen the management and planning of the education system.[3253] The World Bank continues to support the Second Primary Education Project,approved in May 2000, to improve the quality of primary education and provideteacher training, improveeducational environment by setting up focus schools,improve quality and availability of curriculum materials, and develop aninformation base for decision making.[3254] USAID supports teacher training, community participation and policy planning onschooling in three states (Lagos, Kano, and Nasarawa), as well as youth skillsdevelopment for unemployed youth in Delta, Lagos, and Kano. USAID has alsosupported the government’s Education Baseline survey, which was completed in2002.[3255]
Incidence and Nature of Child Labor
In 2000, the ILO estimated that 23.5 percent of childrenages 10 to 14 years in Nigeria were working.[3256] Most children work in agriculture, usually on family farms, in fishing, and ascattle herders.[3257] Children also work on commercial farms.[3258] Within the non-agricultural informal sector, children work in domestic serviceand in public markets and streets as hawkers, vendors, stall minders, beggars,car washers, scavengers, shoe shine boys, bus conductors, and head-loaders.[3259] Children work in cottage industries as mechanics, metal workers, carpenters,tailors, weavers, barbers, and hairdressers.[3260] Child begging is especially widespread in northern Nigeria.[3261]
Commercial sexual exploitation of children is common in manycities in Nigeria.[3262] Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking in children.[3263] Children from Benin and other African countries are trafficked to Nigeria,where some are forced to work as domestic workers, prostitutes[3264]or in other forced labor conditions.[3265] Children are trafficked from Nigeria for domestic labor to West and CentralAfrica, and are trafficked internally.[3266] Girls are sometimes sold into marriage.[3267]
Education in Nigeria is compulsory for 9 years.[3268] In 1996, the gross primary enrollment rate was 81.9 percent.[3269] In 1999, the net primary attendance rate was 55 percent.[3270] Girls are particularly affected by lack of access to education, and familiesoften direct their girls into work, such as domestic activities or streetvending, if unable to send them to school.[3271]
Child Labor Laws and Enforcement
The Labor Act sets the minimum age at 12 years foremployment and apprenticeships, except for light agricultural or domestic workperformed for the family.[3272] The law prohibits children under 12 years from lifting or carrying any loadlikely to inhibit physical development, and establishes a minimum age of 15years for industrial work and maritime employment.[3273] The law prohibits children under 16 years from working underground, onmachines, at night, more than 4 consecutive hours, or more than 8 hours a day.[3274] The law also prohibits children under 18 years from any employment that isdangerous or immoral.[3275] The law does not apply to domestic service.[3276] In July 2003, a comprehensive anti-trafficking law, the Trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, was passed, whichestablished a national agency to enforce the Act and coordinatecounter-trafficking work. Section 11 of the Act stipulates life prison termsfor any persons who traffic children into or out of Nigeria. The Act alsoprovides for prison terms for any persons who procure, either for themselves orothers, any children under the age of 18, or for any persons who commitchildren in their care under age 18 to prostitution or indecent assault.[3277] Eleven states afflicted by trafficking have now dedicated anti-traffickingpolice units. Authorities document numerous government attempts to apprehendand prosecute traffickers.
The Ministry of Employment, Labor and Productivity isresponsible for enforcing legal provisions regarding work conditions andprotection of workers. However, there are few labor inspectors, andinspections are conducted only in the formal business sector where there arefew occurrences of child labor.[3278] Enforcement provisions have not deterred violations. As of November 2002, norecent child labor inspections had resulted in fines, penalties, orconvictions.[3279] Investigations of child trafficking are hampered by corruption among governmentofficials.[3280]
The Government of Nigeria ratified ILO Convention 138 andILO Convention 182 on October 2, 2002.[3281]
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