By Victor Ahiuma-Young

GENEVA—Nigeria has failed to defend itself at the International Labour Conference, ILC, over allegation of increasing breach of Convention 138, which deals with cases of the worst forms of child labour for which it had been indicted in the past years.

*Hawking Children

According to report, there are over 168 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 involved in child Labour globally. Of this number, over 11 million children in Nigeria, the highest in West Africa, are said to be involved in what the International Labour Organisation, ILO, described as the worst forms of child labour, including being used in arm conflicts.

It was gathered that Nigeria and about 19 other countries, mostly African countries, were ordered to appear unfailingly before the Committee on Application of Standards of ILO, after being reported for continuous breach of convention 138 of ILO by civil rights groups and international agencies.

At the meeting of the committee, while representative of government of other countries defended themselves when called upon, Nigerian government was conspicuously absent.

Though Organised Labour, represented by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, as well as employers represented by Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, attended the meeting and made efforts to launder Nigeria’s image, the committee was unhappy that Nigerian government failed to attend, despite being invited to attend unfailingly.

However, solidarity from friendly labour leaders, employers across the globe and few representatives of African countries softened the committee from taking hard decisions on Nigeria.

Ayuba Wabba speaks

Speaking on the decision reached at the meeting, head of organised labour delegation in Nigeria, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, said:  “The decision is that child labour should be seen as a serious evil, especially on the issue of ILO convention 138 which is to protect the children and ensure that they are allowed to go to school and not be on the street selling or working.

‘’Another decision is that the law should be strengthened, including the Child Right Act. The Act should be adopted, implemented and enforced. Lastly, that the social partners should work together and ensure full domestication and implementation of convention 138.”

NECA’s D-G

On his part, Director General of NECA, Mr. Segun Oshinowo, lamented that it was unfortunate that the committee on application indicted Nigeria for breaching the ILO convention on the worst form of child labour.