In a survey, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has shown how child labour affects school attendance and also poses health threat to children in Nigeria, TOBA AGBOOLA reports
The Nigeria Child Labour Survey by ILO 2022/23 has made a landmark on the true situation of the menace in the country.
The survey shows that on the streets across Nigeria, child labour is a menace that goes beyond depriving children the enjoyment of childhood to posing a great threat to their life and future.
This was corroborated by the recently published Nigeria Child Labour Survey. The survey was produced through the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, ILO, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), with the support of the Government of the Netherlands and United States Department of Labour (USDOL).
Among many prominent data-backed findings of the survey, how child labour hinders victims from schooling and limits their chances of living a sane and fulfilled life as adults speaks volume.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Vanessa Phala, child labour casts a long shadow across human communities especially in Africa.
“Child labour affects the ability to attend school and the prospects of benefiting from schooling. Children who spend many hours in child labour may not be able to attend school or take full advantage of the time they are in class,” the survey stated.
It noted: “The relationship between child labour and children’s education cannot be over-emphasised. Findings show a significant difference in the school attendance rate of children in child labour and those not in child labour. A total of 81.4 per cent of children six to 14 years old not engaged in child labour attend school, while school attendance falls to 75.1 percent for children in that age group in child labour.
“This situation is common for both male and female children in the country. A total of 81.5 per cent of girls six to 14 years old not in child labour attend school, while 76 per cent of those in child labour attend school. For male children, the gap is slightly larger, where 81.2 percent of boys out of child labour attend school, while only 74.3 of those in child labour attend school.
“The school attendance gap between children in child labour and those not in child labour is of a similar magnitude in urban and rural areas, but children in rural areas are much less likely to attend school in general. A total of 88.9 per cent of children six to 14 years old in child labour who live in urban areas attend school, whereas only 69.7 per cent for the same population living in rural areas attend school.”
On child labour intensity versus school attendance, the survey said: “The results further reveal that not only the state of being in child labour is related to school attendance, but the time spent engaged in child labour also influences school attendance. The findings clearly indicate that the number of hours children spend working affects their ability to attend school. While 80.3 percent of children six to 14 years old in child labour who work one to seven hours per week in economic activities attend school, the percentage of children attending school reduces to 75.1 percent for children who spend between eight and 14 hours a week in economic activities weekly, 72.0 percent for children who work 15 to 21 hours and 69.9 percent for children who work 22 hours or more.”
The survey also provides information on the reasons children have never attended school or are not in school.
“Common reasons for never attending school among children six to 14 years old in child labour point to the lack of access to quality and affordable education, with 24.6 per cent of children reporting that there are no schools, the school is too far or there are no teachers and 12.6 per cent of children indicating that school is too costly.
“Differences exist between female and male children. The most common reason for girls six to 14 years old in child labour to have never attended school is that the family does not allow it, the case for 22.3 per cent of families.”
The survey further stated that children in child labour in rural areas are more likely to have never attended school than in urban areas due to a lack of schools in the community.
“A total of 26.5 per cent of children six to 14 years old in child labour in rural areas never attended school because of the lack of school in the community compared to only 7.1 per cent in urban areas. For children in urban areas in child labour, the most cited reason for never attending school is that schooling is too costly
“Of the children in child labour not attending school, 30.2 per cent report that they finished school, 15.3 per cent report they are not interested in school, 10 per cent report it is too costly or they cannot afford it and 8.5 per cent report that no school exists, it is too far or there are no teachers.”
On child labour impacts on the health of children, the survey stated: “The involvement of children in child labour exposes them to hazards and risks of injury or illness that cause harm.
“Children five to 17 years old who are in child labour are generally exposed to hazards and risks. The most common hazard or risk affecting 36.0 per cent of children in child labour relates to using sharp tools, such as axes, knives and machetes, followed by carrying heavy loads relevant for 22.6 per cent of children.
“Overall, 53.3 per cent of children in child labour are exposed to at least one workplace hazard, with male and female children almost equally exposed (53.3 per cent of boys and 53.2 per cent of girls).
“However, children in child labour living in rural areas are more likely to be exposed to at least one workplace hazard (55.4 per cent) than those living in urban areas (48.1 per cent). Notably, 89.7 per cent of children in the 15 to 17 age group in child labour are exposed to at least one workplace hazard compared to 45.0 per cent of children in the five to 14 age group.
“Children five to 17 years old engaged in child labour can experience certain injuries and illnesses that jeopardise their health and safety. A total of 16.3 per cent of children in child labour have experienced at least one injury at work. As many as 6.1 per cent of children five to 17 years old in child labour (nearly 1.5 million children) were badly bruised on at least one occasion and 6.0 per cent (also about 1.5 million) had a deep cut.”
Overall, the survey findings reveal that 39.2 per cent of children five to 17 years old in Nigeria are involved in child labour: four of every 10 children.
“Notably, the prevalence of child labour is higher in rural areas, where 44.8 per cent of children are engaged in this activity compared to 30.0 per cent in urban areas. This is an important point as 62.4 per cent of children five to 17 years old in Nigeria live in rural areas.”
The survey also states that the South-East and North-East regions have the highest incidence of child labour: 49.9 percent and 49.4 percent of children in child labour, respectively. It noted also that findings indicate that child labour is more common in poorer households and in those in which the household head is less educated. And understanding where child labour is most prevalent is a crucial consideration when planning interventions to mitigate it.
