CHILD LABOUR ERADICATION POLICIES IN AKWA IBOM STATE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

Considerable evidence indicates that child labour is one social problem that governments across the developing world are finding increasingly difficult to effectively contend. The situation in Nigeria has become more pathetic and disturbing despite the  implementation of many and varied policies aimed at child labour eradication. In Akwa Thorn State, the government in recent times has stepped up the fight against child labour. This is clearly indicated by the promulgation of the Child Right Acts, the declaration of free and compulsory education up to secondary school level, and spirited public education programmes. Drawing experiences from a study conducted in 2012 and findings from empirical studies elsewhere, it is argued in this article that the current war against child labour in Akwa Thorn State may not yield the desired result in the long term. However, for the fight against child labour to be successful, efforts should be made to comprehensively address the primary causal factor of child labour - poverty, promote social justice and access to skill based (qualitative) education.