Country profile NGA
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5-17 | 28.893 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 24.831 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 26.899 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 32.955 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 29.979 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 31.494 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2003-07-31 | C182 | Child's Right Act - Sections 25, 26, 30, and 277 | [{"link_name":"-Child's Right Act","source_link":"https://placng.org/lawsofnigeria/laws/C50.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4295409,103259:NO"}] | No | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Sections 25, 26, 30, and 277 of the Child's Right Act prohibit using children in the production and trafficking of drugs, as well as other types of illicit activities. However the Child Right act is not adopted by all states in Nigeria, as a result it does not apply nationally. In its CEACR Direct Request adopted in 2023 on C138, the Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of the measures taken to ensure that the Child Rights Act enters into force in all the states of Nigeria in the very near future. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2015 | C182 | Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act - Sections 13–17 and 82 | [{"link_name":"Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act","source_link":"https://lawsofnigeria.placng.org/laws/T23.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Sections 13–17 and 82 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 prohibit the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and/or for production of pornography. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2015 | C182 | Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act - Section 19 | [{"link_name":"-Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act","source_link":"https://lawsofnigeria.placng.org/laws/T23.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4295350,103259"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 (TPPEA Act), prohibits and penalizes the forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict (under section 19, perpetrators of trafficking of persons for the purpose of forced or compulsory recruitment for use in armed conflict are liable to no less than seven years of imprisonment and a fine of not less than one million Nigerian Naira (approximately US$1,300)); In its CEACR Observation adopted in 2022 on C182, the Committee declares: while noting certain measures taken by the Government on the use of children in armed conflict, the Committee must once again deeply deplore the persistence of this practice, especially as it entails other violations of the rights of the child, such as abductions, murders and sexual violence. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2015 | C182 | Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act - Sections 13, 16, 17, 21–25, and 82 | [{"link_name":"Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act","source_link":"https://lawsofnigeria.placng.org/laws/T23.pdf"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Sections 13, 16, 17, 21–25, and 82 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 prohibit the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 1971-08-01 ; 2003-07-31 | C138 & C182 | Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) - Sections 59–61 and 91 ; Child's Right Act - Section 28 | [{"link_name":"-Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004)","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=42156"},{"link_name":"-Child's Right Act","source_link":"https://placng.org/lawsofnigeria/laws/C50.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:3340396,103259"}] | No | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Sections 59–61 and 91 of the Labour Act and Section 28 of the Child's Right Act specify a list of activities and conditions for work with according ages. In its CEACR Observation adopted in 2017 on C138, the Committee notes "the Government’s information that the necessary amendments were made to establish the list of hazardous work prohibited to children under 18 years of age. It notes from the minutes of the Stakeholders Committee on the Review of the National Labour Bills of 4 May 2017, that in relation to the list of hazardous work drafted by the National Steering Committee, section 60 of the Labour Standards Bill should have as its first schedule, section 7(2)(d): “List of hazardous work”. The Committee once again urges the Government to take the necessary measures, without delay, to ensure that the list of types of hazardous child labour is adopted and implemented, thereby prohibiting hazardous types of work to children under 18 years of age. " |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1971-08-01 | C138 & C182 | Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) - Sections 59 (5) and (6) | [{"link_name":"Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004)","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=42156"}] | 16 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Sections 59 (5) and (6) of the Labour Act prohibit that a person under the age of 16 years shall be employed- (a) to work underground; or (b) on machine work; or (c) on a public holiday. (6) No young person shall be employed in any employment which is injurious to his health, dangerous or immoral. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 1971-08-01 | C138 | Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) - Article 49 | [{"link_name":"-Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004)","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=42156"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4295409,103259:NO"}] | 12 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | Article 49 of the Labour Act sets the minimum age for apprenticeship at 12. In its Observation adopted in 2022 on C138, the Committee noted that section 46(1)A of the revised Labour Standards Bill establish a minimum age of 14 years for apprenticeship programmes. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the revised Labour Standards Bill will be adopted in the near future. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2004 | C138 | Education Act - Sections 2 and 15 | [{"link_name":"Education Act","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=87623"}] | N/A | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | Although no minimum age is clearly set in the Nigerian national legal framework, Sections 2 and 15 of the Education Act and Section 15 of the Child's Right Act establish that every Government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age, and defines “Junior Secondary School” a school which provides a three year post-primary course of full-time instruction suitable for pupils between the age of 12 years and 15 years. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | No information | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4295409,103259:NO"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | In its CEACR Observation adopted in 2022 on C138, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that schedule two of the revised Labour Standards Bill provides for a list of activities that constitute light work. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the revised Labour Standards Bill will be adopted in the near future. |
| Minimum age for light work | 1971-08-01 | C138 | Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) - Articles 59 and 92 | [{"link_name":"-Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004)","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=42156"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4295409,103259:NO"}] | 12 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | Articles 59 and 92 of the Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) jointly set the minimum age for light work at 12. In addition, the Labour Act permits children of any age to do light work in agriculture and domestic work if they are working with a family member, which does not meet international standards. In its CEACR Observation adopted in 2022 on C138, the Committee noted the Government’s information that section 8(1)A of the revised Labour Standards Bill established a minimum age of 13 years for admission to light work and lays down the conditions and hours of work permitted to children of 13 years of age in light work activities. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the revised Labour Standards Bill will be adopted in the near future. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1971-08-01 | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4295409,103259"}] | No | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Currently, no legal framework states clearly the minimum age for admission to work. In CEACR Observation adopted in 2022 on C138, the Committee notes the Government’s information that the minimum age of 15 years for employment or work, which is the age specified at the time of ratification, has been incorporated in the revised Labour Standards Bill. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the revised Labour Standards Bill will be adopted in the near future. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 02-OCT-2002 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 02-OCT-2002 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria is a Pathfinder Country of the Alliance 8.7, a global partnership committed to eradicating forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour. As part of this initiative, Nigeria held a workshop to initiate the development of a roadmap towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7 in Abuja on 09/05/2019. During this workshop, the strategic objectives and actions necessary to make significant progress in these areas were identified. These areas were: supply chains, conflict and humanitarian settings, and migration. | [{"link_name":"SDG 8.7 Roadmap","source_link":"https://www.alliance87.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/REPORT%20OF%20ALLIANCE%208.7%20LAUNCH%20AND%20NATIONAL%20CONSULTATION%20IN%20NIGERIA%202%20%283%29.pdf"}] | N/A | SDG 8.7 Roadmap | Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. |
| In its CEACR Observation adopted in 2022 on C138, the Committee mentions "the Government states that the second cycle of its National Policy on the Elimination of Child Labour and its National Action Plan (NAP) 2021-2025 has been launched and is currently being implemented. A State Action Plan on child labour in alignment with the NAP has been developed in the six states of Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Niger, Lagos and Ekiti. Moreover, capacity building workshops were conducted which benefitted 85 Child Labour Desk Officers and State Controllers of Labour." | [{"link_name":"CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4295409,103259:NO"}] | 2021-2025 | National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour. | No information |