Child labour is a menace that is prevalent in Nigeria from pre-colonial times and has been fueled in recent times by socio-economic factors especially poverty. Children who are victims of communal clashes, terrorism, poverty and disaster have higher risks of being plunged into child labour. The aim of this paper is to examine the issue of child labour in Nigeria from a human rights perspective. It examined the nature of child labour in Nigeria, the legislative framework relating to child labour in Nigeria. Thus, the paper examined the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the Child Rights Act 2003, the Labour Act 2004, the Violence Against Person (Prohibition) Act 2015, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, and the United Nations Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour 1999. It identified and discussed the challenges to eradicating child labour one of which is the inconsistencies that exist between the Child Right Act 2003 and the Labour Act 2004. The paper recommended among others the amendment of the Labour Act 2004 to reflect the ideals of the Child Right Act 2003 which are consistent with international legal provisions.
Child labour have negatively impacted greatly on children and is gradually distorting the hope and future of the society by many of the future leaders who take part in laborious activities. Over the years, however, global consciousness about the seriousness of the problem has been created. International, National and Regional legislations aimed at eradicating child labour exist but there are drawbacks. This paper analysis several laws on the protection of child’s rights against child labour. The different forms of child labour, causes, nature and consequences of child labour were also analysed. After carrying out the research, it was discovered that despite the huge adverse impact of child labour in our society today, the laws in place to help cushion the effect and eradicate this cankerworm have many drawbacks, which includes non-uniformity of the laws. Different Child labour instruments have their own definition of a Child, it therefore become difficult to ascertain who a child really is, and what constitutes child labours. The laws seems to be paper tigers, bereft of enforceability. It is therefore recommended that the Child Right Act should be domesticated in all States in Nigeria.
Child labour has been observed to be a common practice among illiterates due to poor socio-economic background. Some parents and guardians keep their children in child labour in order to supplement family income. Educated parents who should know the risks involved and enlighten the illiterate parents seem to engage children in hazardous work that directly endangers their health and moral development. This paper examined educated parents’ practice of child labour in Ekiti state. Descriptive survey research design was adopted with a sample of 600 educated parents selected among civil servants working in Local Government Secretariats through multi stage sampling procedure. One research question and three hypotheses were generated for the study. A questionnaire tagged “Educated Parents’ Practice of Child Labour Questionnaire (EPPCLQ)” was used to collect data. The instrument was subjected to screening by experts to ensure validity and reliability was determined through test re-test method that yielded 0.85 reliability coefficients. The study revealed that level of child labour practice among educated parents was moderate, practice of child labour differed based on gender and location of educated parents while the study found no significant difference in educated parents’ practice of child labour based on income. Based on this, it was recommended among others that parents should desist from engaging children in child labour which has been found to be injurious and detrimental to their health and moral development and families need to look for other means of sourcing for income in order to fight poverty and discourage the practice.
Abstract Among the Dagbamba of northern Ghana, the customary practice of child fostering is not the sole responsibility of biological parents, but rather a collective responsibility of the extended family and the larger society. This makes child fostering an age‐old, informal socio‐cultural practice and an integral aspect of social life. Even though the intentions behind child fostering are often good, fostering may also be associated with some dangers such as child labour. In recent years, the debate as to whether child fostering amounts to child labour has been extended to northern Ghana's alleged witches' camps; places where elderly women accused of witchcraft are sheltered. Drawing on one‐to‐one interviews with selected children, alleged witches and community elders, and supplemented by personal experiences growing up in Dagbambaland, this article examines child fostering in relation to child labour in these settlements. Using qualitative ethnographic data, our findings show that what is described as child labour in these settlements is a necessary evil for the category of children who live in these settlements.
Baba Iddrisu Musah, Adams Sulemana Achanso, Saibu Mutaru
There are different strokes for different folks. This is typical of Igbo concept of child training taunts by the Western world as child labour. Among the Igbo, child training begins early from the family. Children grow up following their parents: understudying their day to day activities which prepare them for the task of adulthood. Being mostly agrarian people, Igbo families’ father, mother and children all take part in the farms and the daily house chores. A setting and knowledge the Western world describes as informal education. On the other hand, such belief and orientation are seen as inhuman tag as child labour whose law dates back centuries ago domesticated by Nigeria. This law put to question the Igbo idea of preparing their younger ones for tomorrow and maintaining family trait. This work looks into the early childhood of Igbo children, its import, why informal education? And the Western child labour. The work establishes that the Western notion of Child labour is nothing but the Igbo means of engaging, observing and inculcating early in their children the importance of being useful in life. The work shows that the word child labour is non-existence in the Igbo worldview rather it forms part of their training to contribute to the growth of the family and the society. It also proves that the Western child labour mentality breeds truancy, non-committal to the family growth and bonding, lacks foundation of life and unhealthy to the family and society at large
Ethel Ebere Obiakor, Ngozi Theresa Onuora, Chinenye C Olekaibe et al.
Child labor refers to work that is unsuitable for children due to their age or the hazardous conditions involved,which can adversely affect their health, safety, and moral development.Unlike tasks that promote growth, such aslight household chores, child labour can expose children to extreme exploitation, including forced labour,trafficking, involvement in armed conflict, and illicit activities like drug production or prostitution. As the mostvulnerable members of society, children need robust protection from these harmful practices. Using a doctrinalresearch methodology, this paper examined the protection of children against child labour in Nigeria, focusing onthe legal, institutional, and socio-economic frameworks in place. The paper explored the root causes of childlabour, including poverty, lack of access to education, cultural practices, and weak legal enforcement. It evaluatesthe effectiveness of government initiatives, non-governmental organization (NGO) efforts, and internationalinterventions aimed at combating child labour. Findings indicated that while progress has been made, significantobstacles remain. The paper recommended a review of existing laws, better enforcement mechanisms, and strongersocio-economic support for families. It also advocates for the full implementation of the Child Rights Act across allstates in Nigeria to ensure the rights and safety of children, and to reduce their involvement in child labour.
The thrust of this paper is to analyse the issues surrounding child labour and delinquent behaviour, linking the core of the problem to parents’ financial status, cultural practices and parental literacy. The article presents that child labour is a widespread global abnormality, wherein underage children are illegally engaged in undignified, dangerous, and debasing economic activities without considering the implication on their safety, security and dreams. These children are unduly engaged or employed to work for longer hours; usually at dumpsites, industrial layouts, farmlands, and in other settings; as servants, labourers and scavengers. A situation that has a significant socio-psychological effect, which in extreme cases results in delinquent behaviour. Child labour invariably creates a feeling of false maturity syndrome, as well as, exposes children to negative habits in the course of interacting with people of low-virtue, who often in the guise of patronizing their wares indoctrinate them into their unsavoury ways of life. As Nigeria battles the increasing rate of child labour and the attendant juvenile delinquency, it has become imperative that qualitative education should be made free, compulsory, relevant, attractive, and available for all, irrespective of their tribe, gender, religion, and geographical location. If child education is guaranteed, it, therefore, follows that parents would not see the need to give out their children as baby sitters and house helps to their relatives who initially promise to give the child good education whereas such relatives eventually use the innocent child in multiple labour such as domestic laundry and street hawking. Received: 7 September 2020 / Accepted: 31 March 2021 / Published: 10 May 2021
John Thompson Okpa, Emmanuel Eshiotse, Nnana Okoi Ofem et al.
Background: Clitoral retention cyst results from the invagination of squamous epithelium and sebaceous glands along the scar following female genital mutilation/cutting. This desquamates and produces secretions to form a cystic mass. It is usually a complication of type I female genital mutilation.
Case presentation: She is a 10-year-old female child, who presented to the gynaecological clinic with her mother, with a 6-year history of progressive swelling in her perineum. She was circumcised at the age of 2 years. She had surgical excision under anaesthesia, and was discharged home in good health condition.
Conclusion: Female genital mutilation is still being practised, especially in the developing world. More work needs to be done by every stake holder to help stop this harmful practice in order to prevent the complications associated with it.
Peter Chibuzor Oriji, Dennis Oju Allagoa, James Enimi Omietimi et al.
Despite international commitments to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), very little is known about the effectiveness of national policies in contributing to the abandonment of this harmful practice. To help address this gap in knowledge, we apply a quasi-experimental research design to study two west African countries, Mali and Mauritania. These countries have marked similarities with respect to practices of FGM/C, but differing legal contexts. A law banning FGM/C was introduced in Mauritania in 2005; in Mali, there is no legal ban on FGM/C. We use nationally representative survey data to reconstruct trends in FGM/C prevalence in both countries, from 1997 to 2011, and then use a difference-in-difference method to evaluate the impact of the 2005 law in Mauritania. FGM/C prevalence in Mauritania began to decline slowly for girls born in the early 2000s, with the decline accelerating for girls born after 2005. However, a similar trend is observable in Mali, where no equivalent law has been passed. Additional statistical analysis confirms that the 2005 law did not have a significant impact on reducing FGM/C prevalence in Mauritania. These findings suggest that legal change alone is insufficient for behavioral change with regard to FGM/C. This study demonstrates how it is possible to evaluate national policies using readily available survey data in resource-poor settings.
Abstract This study beyond opinionated conjectures, empirically studied the influence of radio campaign in curbing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the selected community. The harmful effects of female genital mutilation to women are worldwide recognized while it is practiced by people of all socio economic background; there are differences within countries and between communities. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of radio in curbing female genital mutilation using girls and women in Ikeji-Arakeji town in Oriade local Government. Survey method of gathering data was used for this study by distributing questionnaire to elicit responses fro m the respondents. The sample size was 200. This study observed that the mass media are expected to play effective roles through effective campaign in all the channels of the media but mostly on the radio so as to get to the rural areas as it is the most portable and affordable means of communication. The study recommends that the Federal ministry of information and Orientation and non-governmental organizations should embark on campaign to persuade parents to stop the act, the media should also design programmes that will focus on the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation.
DEBORAH BUKUNMI BABATOLA, Peter Olayinka Awofadeju, OLUFUNKE CECILIA ADEBAYO
