President Bola Tinubu has declared the elimination of child labour a national development priority as the Federal Government unveiled a four-year action plan aimed at tackling the menace across Nigeria.

Tinubu said child labour was not merely a labour-related issue, but one with implications for education, poverty reduction, economic growth, food security, human capital development and national security.

The President spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the National Dialogue on Advancing the Implementation of Nigeria’s National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan 2026–2030.

He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

The event also witnessed the launch of the 2024 National Child Labour Survey (Labour Force Survey) Report and the National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour 2026–2030.

According to a statement by Akume’s media aide, Yomi Odunuga, Tinubu said the Federal Government would intensify efforts to address the root causes of child labour, particularly poverty, unemployment, inadequate access to quality education and social exclusion.

“Every nation is judged by how well it protects its children. A child who is forced into labour instead of attending school loses more than an education. That child loses opportunities, confidence, health and the chance to fully contribute to national development.”

He added, “For this reason, the Federal Government considers the elimination of child labour not merely as a labour issue, but as a national development priority. It is linked to education, social protection, economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, human capital development and national security.”

Tinubu said the administration would strengthen labour administration and inspection systems, improve child protection mechanisms and expand interventions designed to address the socioeconomic conditions that push children into work.

He also identified education as one of the strongest safeguards against child labour, noting that the administration was implementing reforms targeting out-of-school children, education data, teacher development and skills acquisition.

The President said the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme would also help increase school attendance while addressing hunger and nutritional challenges among children from vulnerable households.

He further highlighted social protection and household resilience programmes, including the NG-CARES Additional Financing Programme and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity Programme, as part of efforts to expand economic opportunities for families.

According to him, helping parents and caregivers secure decent livelihoods would reduce the pressure that often forces children to work to support their households.

Tinubu recalled that his administration launched the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria 2024–2030 in 2025, while continuing efforts to strengthen enforcement of the Child Rights Act and other child protection laws.

He added that measures were also being taken to improve safety in schools, particularly in vulnerable and high-risk areas.

The President said Nigeria’s status as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country placed additional responsibility on the country to demonstrate measurable progress in the fight against child labour.

“As an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country, Nigeria accepts both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead by example,” Tinubu said.

He described the National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour 2026–2030 as a practical roadmap for translating Nigeria’s international commitments into measurable national action.

Tinubu called on state governments to support implementation of the action plan and urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to champion child protection initiatives across the country.

He also charged employers to ensure that their supply chains were free from child labour.

The President urged workers’ organisations, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, communities, parents and guardians to support the national campaign against child exploitation.

He subsequently directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, employers, workers’ organisations, development partners and civil society organisations to ensure full implementation of the policy and action plan.

Tinubu commended the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, International Labour Organisation, ECOWAS, European Union, Government of the Netherlands, United States Department of Labor, World Bank, National Bureau of Statistics and members of the National Steering Committee on the Elimination of Child Labour for their support.

He stressed that the country must now move “beyond commitment to action” to ensure that Nigerian children have access to education and protection and are free from exploitation.

The unveiling of the 2026–2030 action plan comes as the Federal Government continues to position education, social protection, skills development and household economic support as key components of efforts to improve outcomes for Nigerian children.