Child Labour in the Nigerian Society

Child Labour in the Nigerian Society.

ABSTRACT

The high rate of child labour in Nsukka Urban and in many urban centers in Nigeria at large has remained a very big problem. There are various forms of child labour, covering a wide range of work activities, such as, street hawkers, bus conductors, beggars, domestic servants among others.

Child labour has serious adverse effect both on the child’s health, education, psychology and on the development of the nation at large. The study was approached in an objective and systematic manner.

The primary and secondary source of data collection, including direct and indirect interviews with personal reflections was used in an analytic manner.

The findings, made clear the fact that, so many Nigerian children are working under unhealthy conditions due to some necessity, which push them to labour.

The prime reason for child labour in Nsukka urban and Nigeria at large was found to be poverty among other causes like; death, illiteracy and ignorance, polygamy, etc.

Besides the need for poverty reduction in Nigeria, The  study further recommends that more money and time should be spent on the improvement of education in Nigeria.

The conclusion is that poverty and child labour are interwoven, therefore child labour cannot be eradicated without great reduction in the poverty level of the nation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page – – – – – – – – – – – – i
Requirement page – – – – – – – – – – ii
Approval page – – – – – – – – – – – iii
Certification – – – – – – – – – – -iv
Declaration – – – – – – – – – – – v
Dedication – – – – – – – – – – – – vi
Acknowledgement- – – – – – – – – -vii
Abstract – – – – – – – – – – – – – viii
Table of content – – – – – – – – – – -ix

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study – – – – – – – – -1
1.2 Statement of Problem – – – – – – – – -2
1.3 Purpose of Study- – – – – – – – – -3
1.4 Research Methodology – – – – – – – – -4
1.5 Scope of Study – – – – – – – – -6
1.6 Significance of Study – – – – – – – – -6
1.7 Definition of Terms – – – – – – – – -7

CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Child Labour; an Overview- – – – – – – -10
2.2 Child Labour; a Historical Appraisal- – – – – – -16
2.3 International Convention on Right of the Child – – – -18
2.4 Child Labour and Exploitation in Nigeria – – – – – -24
2.5 Child Labour and Education – – – – – – – -33

CHAPTER THREE TYPES AND CAUSES OF CHILD LABOUR IN NIGERIA

3.1 Types of Child Labour – – – – – – – – -40
3.1.1 Child Labour in Agriculture – – – – – – – -40
3.1.2 Street Hawkers – – – – – – – – – -42
3.1.3 Child Begging – – – – – – – – – -43
3.1.4 Bus Conductors – – – – – – – – – -44
3.1.5 Domestic Servant – – – – – – – – -45
3.1.6 Workshop Apprentice – – – – – – – – -49
3.2 Causes of Child Labour – – – – – – – – -50
3.2.1 Poverty – – – – – – – – – – -50
3.2.2 Illiteracy and Ignorance – – – – – – – – -52
3.2.3 Polygamy – – – – – – – – – – -53
3.2.4 Low Family Allowance – – – – – – – -54
3.2.5 Death – – – – – – – – – – -55
3.2.6 Willingness to Exploit Children – – – – – – -57

CHAPTER FOUR EFFECTS OF CHILD LABOUR

4.1 Effects on the Child – – – – – – – -59
4.1.1 Health – – – – – – – – – – -60
4.1.2 Psychology – – – – – – – – – -62
4.1.3 Education – – – – – – – – – – -66
4.2 Effects on the Society – – – – – – – – -70
4.2.1 National Development – – – – – – – – -70
4.2.2 Crime Rate – – – – – – – – – -72

CHAPTER FIVE CHILD LABOUR: THE WAY FORWARD

5.1 Improving Coherence of Labour Legislation – – – – -75
5.2 Improving on the Enforcement of Labour – – – – -77
5.3 Enhancing Access to and Quality of Education- – – – -80
5.4 School Nutrition programme and financial Incentive- – – -85
5.5 The Position of the Church – – – – – – -87

CHAPTER SIX SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

6.1 Summary of Findings – – – – – – – -91
6.2 Contribution to Knowledge – – – – – – – -92
6.3 Recommendations – – – – – – – – -93
6.4 Suggestions for Further Research – – – – – – -94
6.5 Conclusion – – – – – – – – – -95
REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

In recent times, there has been an increase in the incidence of child labour as an aspect of child neglect. Child labour is understood as any work that deprives children, of their potential and their dignity, which is harmful to their physical and mental development.

Child labour is a serious and contentious issue throughout  the developing world as it is demeaning and damaging to a child’s health and intellectual development. The rise in its rate in Nigeria could have been a consequence of the demand for cheap labour and poverty.

However children have always worked in Nigeria, the philosophy of most cultures in Nigeria encourage children to work with their families, learning skills they would need  as adults. But today children are forced to work for their own and their family’s survival.

That is to say that in some regions child labour has persisted or reconstituted from the customary into the exploitative. Low wages, irregular hours of employment, exploitative slavery, and atrocious working conditions all characterize child labour in Nigeria.

This is not without effect because it could lead to mass drop out from primary and secondary schools, involvement in crimes, and drug related habits; hamper human capital development and the potentials of our  developing  country Nigeria.