(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/lABOUR-300x192.jpg) Towards eliminating the worst form of child labour in Nigeria, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, has directed the Inspectorate Department in his Ministry to undertake specialized inspections of work places across the country to identify child labourers and enforce necessary laws against the practice.
Wogu gave this directive in Abuja when he declared open the validation workshop for the draft Child Labour Policy and National Plan of Action on the Elimination of Child Labour in Nigeria.
(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/DSC_0474.jpg)According to him, "I have directed the Inspectorate Department of my Ministry to ensure that labour inspectors in all states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory double their efforts in carrying out specialized inspections across the country and where necessary enforce extraction of child labour in workplaces in Nigeria".
Speaking further, the Minister affirmed the commitment of the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to eliminating child labour, especially its worst forms, in line with global standard, adding that appreciable progress has been recorded in that regards.
"Nigeria has made substantial progress in the fight against Child Labour especially in its worst forms with the update of our national legislation to tackle the menace of this scourge in the country", the Minister emphasized.
In his remarks, the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Terence McCulley, who was represented at the event by Political and Labour Officer, Mr. Brant Beyer appreciated the effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria on the elimination of child labour, stressing that Nigeria now has the opportunity to make strides in reducing the number of child labourers in the country.
"Nigeria continues to make progress against child labour. The United States Embassy's Department of Labour has noted in particular, Nigerian Government's efforts in respect to the "Almajiri" education programme; the National Policy and National Action Plan will help Nigeria continue on its path towards development", Brant affirmed.
Addressing the gathering, the Director, ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ms. Sina Chuma-Mkandawire affirmed that at the end of the workshop two home-grown documents would have been validated. "By the end of this workshop, National Policy on Child Labour and the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour in Nigeria (2013-2017) would have being validated".
Ms. Mkandawire promised the continued support of the International Labour Organization as well as that of the United States' Government through its Department of Labour to the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria at eradicating worst form of child labour.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh in his remarks, appreciated ILO and United States' Department of Labour for their consistent and continued support to the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling child labour in the country.
"My deepest appreciation to the ILO for its consistent and continued support to the Ministry over these years in tackling child labour in all its ramifications in the country, more importantly, this process would not have reached this stage without the technical and financial support provided by both the ILO and United States' Departments of Labour to drive and consummate this process", Dr. Illoh affirmed.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria