Niger State Government to Partner with ILO and Others to Eliminate Child Labor in the State.
By Yahaya Zakka, Minna.
The Niger State Government has pledged to collaborate closely with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other relevant organizations to eliminate child labor in the state.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago made this statement during a courtesy visit from a delegation led by Dr. Vanessa Phala, the ILO Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the ECOWAS Liaison Office, at the Niger State liaison office in Abuja.
The governor expressed his concern over the issue of child labor in society and outlined the measures his administration is implementing to tackle it.
He advised the ILO to redefine and categorize what constitutes child labor to avoid cultural misunderstandings.
Governor Bago emphasized that collaborating with the ILO and other relevant stakeholders would yield better results. He also recommended that similar meetings be held periodically.
Dr. Vanessa Phala explained that the delegation’s visit aimed to appreciate the governor’s efforts in combating child labor in the state.
She noted that the ILO has been active in Niger State and two other states in the country since 2018, implementing critical interventions aimed at assisting children who have been deprived of their childhood and those engaged in harmful activities.
Dr. Phala further explained that their intervention is part of the ACCEL Africa project, supported by the government of the Netherlands, with a focus on small-scale artisanal mining in Niger State.
She mentioned that the first phase of the project involved establishing structures and engaging all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), traditional leaders, parents, and community members.
She also disclosed that the organization is expanding its intervention scope in the second phase, targeting four communities across three local government areas: Iwa in Gurara, Kuchiko and Kuchiko Camp in Suleja, and Tuntungo in Paikoro.
In the second phase, the project will address issues related to occupational safety and health, as well as social protection for vulnerable households, emphasizing that poverty is a significant contributor to child labor in Nigeria.
Dr. Vanessa commended the Niger State Government for introducing projects that align with the organization’s objectives and urged the administration to maintain its efforts and support.
