The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called for concerted efforts by stakeholders to end child labour in the workplace and across the country.

NECA Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, made the call on Tuesday in commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour marked on every June 12.

Oyerinde said that there was the need for concrete actions and collaboration to fulfill the country’s commitments.

‘As stakeholders, we must reflect on our progress on this important issue and identify areas where we can intensify our efforts,’ he said.

He said that child labour remained a pressing issue in the country which ‘affects millions of children denied of basic rights to education, health and a safe environment.

‘This day serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to implement and strengthen policies.

‘These policies should be aimed at eradicating child labour in the workplace, particularly within business value chains and promoting overall child welfare’.

The NECA boss said t
hat the association had been pivotal in the fight against the worst forms of child labour.

He said that the association had developed a ‘code of conduct and guidance tool for businesses within the organised private sector.

‘This tool aims to guide companies toward the elimination of child labour, while the association has advocated for in creased allocation of corporate social responsibility resources toward initiatives aimed at eliminating child labour’.

Oyerinde urged the government at both national and sub-national levels to prioritise children’s welfare in their development agendas.

He said that government should ensure that policies and programmes were effectively implemented and adequately funded for maximum impact.

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He reiterated NECA’s and employers’ commitment to upholding and enforcing policies that would prohibit child labour in all forms across supply chains and operations.

‘The private sector is willing to continue
to invest in educational programmes and skill development initiatives that offer children and their families alternatives to child labour.

‘I commend the International Labour Organisation for working with the association and private sector employers for their various corporate social responsibilities, even in a challenging economic environment, toward the eradication of child labour in Nigeria,’ Oyerinde said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria