
By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Director of the International Labour Organisation Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and liaison Office for ECOWAS, Vanessa Phala, has said a heart-breaking figure of 160 million children are trapped in child labour.
She said over the years, ECOWAS and its partners, including the ILO, have made notable strides in addressing child labour across the region.
Phala disclosed this at the first annual review meeting of child labour experts from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja.
She said the Regional Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour and Forced Labour, now in its second cycle, is a robust framework driving our collective efforts.
“Today, we gather not only to review progress but also to align our strategies and reinforce our resolve in the face of evolving challenges.
“The latest global estimates reveal that 160 million children remain trapped in child labour, a heart-breaking figure that underscores the urgency of our mission.
“Sub-Saharan Africa, home to many of our member states, bears a disproportionate burden of this crisis. This calls for intensified, collaborative action across borders, sectors, and communities to create a future where every child is free to learn, grow, and thrive,” she said.
Phala further said, “Through the ACLAWA project, communities are empowered to take ownership in the fight against child labour. We have established Community Child Labour Monitoring Committees, enabling local leaders to monitor, report, and mitigate child labour within their communities.
“These committees, strengthened through training and resources, have become the first line of defence in identifying and addressing child labour at its source. As we deliberate on progress at this meeting, I encourage us to reflect on key priorities: Strengthening legal and policy frameworks: Aligning national laws with international labour standards is critical to ensuring a unified approach across the region. Enhancing monitoring and evaluation systems:
“Addressing the root causes of child labour, such as poverty and lack of access to education, requires investing in social protection, skills development, and economic opportunities for families. Fostering multi-sectoral collaboration: Governments, employers, workers, civil society, and international partners must work hand-in-hand to scale up interventions and amplify their reach.
“The eradication of child labour is a moral imperative and a cornerstone for sustainable development in West Africa. By safeguarding the rights and well-being of our children, we lay the foundation for resilient societies and prosperous economies.”
*FG laments children working in agricultural sector remain significant challenge
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said that child labour, particularly in the agricultural sector, remained a significant challenge across West Africa.
The government noted with dismay that children work long hours under hazardous conditions, depriving them of their right to education, health, and a childhood free from exploitation.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, described the meeting as a testament to the collective resolve to safeguard the fundamental rights of children and vulnerable individuals, ensuring a future where no one is subjected to exploitative practices.
She commended the ECOWAS and the International Labour Organization (ILO) for organising the meeting through the Action Against Child Labour in Agriculture in West Africa, ACLAWA, Project.
Onyejeocha said, “Your unwavering dedication to addressing these pressing issues reaffirms our commitment to fostering a just and equitable region. I wish to also appreciate all the child labour experts who are here today from different countries in the ECOWAS region, those visiting Nigeria for the first time and those who have been here before now. On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, I welcome you all to Nigeria.
“Child labour, particularly in the agricultural sector, remains a significant challenge across West Africa. Agriculture accounts for a substantial share of child labour globally; our region is no exception. Children work long hours under hazardous conditions, depriving them of their right to education, health, and a childhood free from exploitation.
“Similarly, forced labour continues to pose a grave concern, with vulnerable individuals coerced into exploitative work arrangements. These practices undermine our nation’s development, perpetuate poverty cycles, and violate basic human rights.
“The factors driving child labour and forced labour are multifaceted, including poverty, limited access to quality education, socio-economic instability, and weak enforcement of labour laws. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated, holistic, and sustained effort at local, national, and regional levels.”
The Minister enumerated measures taken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to tackle child labour and poverty in the country.
“The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, has created an enabling environment for eliminating child labour and forced labour, by ratifying the key and instrumental ILO Conventions and setting up structures.”
In a welcome address, the representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, acknowledged the ILO’s support through the ACLAWA Project, “Action against Child labour in Agriculture in West Africa,” for the successful organisation of the meeting.
He said, “Figures emerging from current studies are not encouraging despite all efforts to curb the menace. Disaggregated data shows an increase in Africa, especially West Africa. West and Central Africa account for a significant number of these children, with an estimated average of 30 percent children (31 percent male and 30 percent female children) in child labour, putting in an average of 18 working hours per week.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is certainly unacceptable, and we must collectively take action to reverse the ugly trend. A remarkable step in that regard … is adopting the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on Eliminating Child Labour and Forced Labour (2022-2030) by the Honourable Ministers of Labour and Employment in the ECOWAS region.
“This endorsement formally established the document as a legal instrument for all ECOWAS Member States. The current RAP is the same as the initial one, adopted in 2012 by ECOWAS Ministers of Labour and Employment Member States.
“I therefore humbly appeal to each of us to commit to implementing the Plans adopted today at the country level. I am not unmindful of our resource constraints, but I am convinced that through integrated thinking, coordinated actions, effective policy-making, and efficient use of resources, we will achieve our common goal of a region free from child labour, where there is decent work and employment for all Community Citizens.”