President Bola Tinubu has launched a four-year national action plan to tackle child labour in Nigeria, with measures aimed at helping families earn decent incomes and keeping children in school.
The President unveiled the National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026–2030) on Wednesday in Abuja, during a national dialogue on the policy’s implementation.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr George Akume, Tinubu said child labour was closely connected to poverty, limited access to education and other challenges affecting national development.
He also launched the 2024 National Child Labour Survey Report at the event.
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The President said the Federal Government would address the conditions that force children into work, including household poverty, unemployment, poor access to quality education and social exclusion.
He said the government viewed the protection of children as a national responsibility, noting that children who work instead of attending school lose opportunities to develop their skills and contribute to society.
School feeding and support for families
Tinubu identified education as one of the most effective ways to protect children from labour.
He said his administration was implementing reforms focused on out-of-school children, education data, teacher development and skills acquisition.
The President also cited the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme as part of the government’s plan to support school attendance and reduce hunger among children from vulnerable households.
Under the programme, schoolchildren receive meals, which the government says can help address nutritional challenges affecting children from poor families.
Tinubu said the government was also strengthening social protection and household resilience through programmes such as the NG-CARES Additional Financing Programme and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity Programme.
He said these initiatives were intended to create economic opportunities for parents and caregivers, helping them earn decent livelihoods so that children would not have to work to support their families.
The President said the government was also working to improve safety in schools, particularly in vulnerable and high-risk areas.
He recalled that his administration launched the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria (2024–2030) in 2025.
He said the government would continue to enforce the Child Rights Act and other laws designed to protect children from abuse and exploitation.
Four-year plan places duties on stakeholders
The new action plan sets out a national framework for addressing child labour between 2026 and 2030.
Tinubu said the government would strengthen labour administration and inspection systems, improve child protection mechanisms and support programmes that address the causes of child labour.
He also called on state governments to support the implementation of the plan.
The President asked the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to promote child protection programmes across the country.
He charged employers to ensure that their supply chains were free from child labour. He also asked workers’ organisations, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, parents, guardians and civil society organisations to support the national programme.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s position as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country came with a responsibility to show progress in the fight against child labour.
Alliance 8.7 is a global partnership focused on ending forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour.
The President said the new policy and action plan would help turn Nigeria’s international commitments into measurable national action.
He said the theme of the 2026 commemoration, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” captured the need to protect children while supporting adults with decent employment.
Tinubu’s directive places responsibility on government institutions, employers and other stakeholders to ensure that the 2026–2030 plan is implemented.
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