A new survey on Nigeria’s child labour has shown that the menace was highest in the South-East in 2022.
The National Bureau of Statistics carried out the survey in collaboration with the International Labour Organization and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
It showed that 24.67 million children in the country were engaged in labour activities that were injurious to their physical and mental development that year.
This figure represents 39.23 per cent of the total 62.90 million children population in Nigeria as of that year.
However, in 2023, the federal government said the figure could have increased to 43 per cent.
The data showed that more boys (39.6 per cent) were in child labour than girls (38.8 per cent). Also, children living in rural areas were more likely to be engaged in labour than children in urban areas.
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| Work category | 5–11 years old | 12–14 years old | 15–17 years old | Total (5–17 years old) |
| Total population | 36 832 561 | 13 865 523 | 12 202 395 | 62 900 479 |
| In economic activity | 14 990 674 | 8 583 312 | 8 182 316 | 31 756 302 |
| In child labour | 14 990 674 | 5 132 574 | 4 550 237 | 24 673 485 |
| In hazardous work | 5 824 667 | 4 015 447 | 4 550 237 | 14 390 353 |
Table showing the breakdown of child labour prevalence in 2022/ Source: NBS
The term “child labour” is defined by ILO as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.
By ILO’s general convention, the minimum age for admission to employment or work is 15 years (13 for light work) and the minimum age for hazardous work is 18 (16 under certain strict conditions).
Nigeria, an ILO member since 1960, is a signatory to 40 ILO conventions, including child labour.
The report noted that aside from child labour, 31.76 million children were involved in one form of economic activity or the other, and 14.39 million children were in hazardous labour.
By geopolitical region, the South-East region had the highest prevalence of children involved in child labour that year.
However, the states with the highest child labour were Cross River (67.4 per cent), Yobe (62.6 per cent), Abia (60.1 per cent) and Plateau (58.9 per cent).
| Zone | Child labour prevalence |
| North Central | 43.10% |
| North East | 49.40% |
| North West | 34.60% |
| South West | 27.50% |
| South East | 49.90% |
| South South | 43.10% |
Table showing child labour prevalence by geopolitical zone in Nigeria/ Source: NBS report 2022
The states with the least children involved in child labour were Ogun (30.4 per cent), Kano (27.9 per cent), Benue (26.5 per cent), Rivers (20.7 per cent) and Lagos (8.9 per cent).
When broken down by age group, 60.8 per cent (14.99 million) of child labourers that year were between the age of five to 11 years old, while 20.8 per cent (5.13 million) were between the ages of 12–14 years. Also, 4.55 million, representing 18.4 per cent, were between the ages of 15–17 years.
Investigations by The ICIR ( here, here and here) exposed how child labour has become prevalent in the country due to insecurity or economic challenges.
In 2023, The ICIR reported how the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, was criticised for saying that school days should exclude Fridays to enable children to get involved in production activities to boost urban development.
The remark attracted wide criticism.
Kehinde Ogunyale tells stories by using data to hold power into account. You can send him a mail at jameskennyogunyale@gmail or Twitter: Prof_KennyJames | LinkedIn: Kehinde Ogunyale