FG unveils national reporting template on child labour

The Federal Government has unveiled a national reporting template to tackle child labour.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, disclosed this yesterday in Kano at a two-day capacity building workshop for northwest zonal officers.

He said the plan is to meet the target set under Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD).

Adebiyi explained that the new template, which would guide stakeholders in the intervention chain, seeks to avoid duplication of functions among the relevant agencies.

Represented by the director, Inspectorate, Mr. Solomon Ajibola, he said child labour has become a challenge not only to the country, but also to the global community.

He added that the new template would complement the existing policies to serve as national action plan.

The goal seeks to eradicate human trafficking and curb the increasing social menace in the country.

According to him, the template involves taking “immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition of worst forms of child labour.

“Also prohibited is the recruitment and use of child soldiers, which must end by 2025 in all its forms.”

He said it is a strategic mechanism that would facilitate the generation of data, and engender valuation techniques.

The system, he added, would identify potential gaps in the implementation of multi-sectorial strategies and processes on child labour matters in the country.

The permanent secretary disclosed that this would be the first time that the country would have a template for proper monitoring, evaluation and data collection on child labour.

He said: “The National Reporting Template on Child Labour has gone through a wide and rigorous consultative processes that included all relevant sectors of the economy.