Over 50% Nigerian children involved in child labour- New Report
North West with the highest prevalence
By Samuel Ogunsona
Over 50 percent of Nigerian children are engaged in child labour, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had said.
The Bureau said 50.5% Nigerian children between the ages of 5 to 17 are engaged in unlawful labour practices.
The report launched by NBS on Thursday, tagged “Nigeria Child Labour and Forced Labour Survey 2022″ revealed that the North-West geopolitical zone has the highest number of children in the unlawful activities.
The North West have produced the most of Nigerian leaders since independence and was responsible for producing two Presidents since 1999, the latest being former President Mohammadu Buhari.
According to the new report, children in the North -East region have about (6,407,102) child labourers and (3,266,728) doing hazardous work.
The report said 5-17 age group, nearly 94 per cent of children in child labour are involved in own-use production of goods (including collection of firewood and fetching water), 24 per cent are in employment and 11 per cent perform unpaid trainee work.
It added that in the 5 -17 age group, children in child labour spend an average of 14.6 hours per week working, while older children in child labour spend more time per week at work than younger children.
“Children in child labour who live in rural areas spend 2.3 more hours working on average than children in child labour who live in urban areas. Boys in child labour spend more time working per week on average than girls in child labour,” it said.
It noted that time-intensity in employment and unpaid trainee work is substantially higher in urban areas than the national average. Children in child labour are less likely to attend school than those not in child labour,” it said.
The bureau noted children who live in the rural areas are likely to be exposed to more hazardous work than those in the urban areas.
“Children in child labour who live in rural areas are more likely to be exposed to workplace hazards than those who live in urban areas.
“16.3 per cent of children in child labour have experienced a work-related injury. Boys in child labour are more likely to have experienced a work-related injury than girls in child labour,” it said.
