2022 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Nigeria

 
Moderate Advancement

In 2022, Nigeria made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. Five additional Nigerian Governors signed the Child Rights Act, which provides free and compulsory education for children and prohibits the use of children in illicit activities and by non-state armed groups. The government also hired over 180 labor inspectors and increased inspections from 10,526 in 2021 to 17,026 in 2022. In addition, the government established 11 community child labor monitoring committees, which oversee child labor projects and outreach efforts at the local level. Finally, the government adopted a new national action plan on human trafficking and conducted a national child labor survey in order to better inform their child labor policies. However, children in Nigeria are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation and use in armed conflict, as well as quarrying granite and artisanal mining. Although the government made meaningful efforts in all relevant areas during the reporting period, protections related to the minimum age for work do not apply to children who are self-employed or working in the informal economy. In addition, the state of Kano does not prohibit the use of children in illicit activities.

I. Prevalence and Sectoral Distribution of Child Labor

Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Nigeria. Data on some of these indicators are not available from the sources used in this report.

Table 1. Statistics on Children's Work and Education
Children Age Percent
Working (% and population) 5 to 14 15 (6,798,456)
Attending School (%) 5 to 14 78
Combining Work and School (%) 7 to 14 10.4
Primary Completion Rate (%)   Unavailable

Primary completion rate was unavailable from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2023. (1)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from General Household Survey (GHS), 2019. (2)
These data are not comparable with data presented in last year’s report due to changes in survey source, survey questionnaire, or age range surveyed.

Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.

Table 2. Overview of Children's Work by Sector and Activity
Sector/Industry Activity
Agriculture Production of coffee, cotton, tea, manioc/cassava, cocoa, rice, and tobacco (3-6)
  Fishing, activities unknown (7)
  Herding livestock (4,6,8,9)
Industry Mining and quarrying of granite and gravel (3,6,8,9)
  Artisanal gold mining (4,6,9,10)
  Harvesting sand (10)
  Construction, including making bricks and carrying construction materials (3,4,6,8,9)
Services Domestic work (3,4,8,9,11,12)
  Collecting money on public buses, washing cars, and automotive repair (4,8,9,11)
  Street work, including vending, begging, and scavenging (3,4,8,9,11)
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ Commercial sexual exploitation, including use in the production of pornography, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (4,8,12,13)
  Forced labor in begging; domestic work; street vending; textile manufacturing; mining and quarrying gravel, granite, and artisanal gold; and agriculture, including in cocoa (4,9,12,13)
  Recruitment of children by non-state armed groups for use in armed conflict and in non-conflict support roles, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (8,9)

‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.

Nigeria continues to be a source, transit, and destination country for forced labor and sex trafficking of both adults and children. Trafficked Nigerians are recruited from primarily rural areas within the country, with women and girls recruited for domestic work and sex trafficking while boys are recruited for street vending, domestic work, mining, agriculture, and begging. (6,8) Benin City, the capital of Edo State, continues to be a major human trafficking hub in Africa, but increased enforcement efforts may have caused some human trafficking rings to shift their focus to other areas of southern Nigeria. (14) Rapid population growth in Nigeria is also driving the informal education sector, with several million boys in the north going to Quranic schools known as Almajiri. The government does not officially recognize these schools, and students attending Almajiri schools are officially considered to be out of school. (8) The Almajiri system includes a component of child labor, with some teachers tasking older children with menial jobs and other children forced into begging. (8,9,15) Despite notable military advances and proclamations of Boko Haram’s defeat by government forces, the group remained a security threat, with escalating attacks by both Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa in Nigeria's northeastern regions. These attacks have contributed to the displacement of more than 2 million people, of which 56 percent were children. (6,16-18)

UNICEF reported that as of January 2022, at least 10.5 million children, or one-third of all Nigerian children, are out of school in Nigeria, making it the highest out-of-school rate in the world. Northeastern and northwestern states have female primary net attendance rates of 47.7 percent and 47.3 percent, respectively. (8,19) The widespread increase in kidnappings, killings, village raids, and cattle-rustling throughout the Northwest and North Central regions led by organized criminal groups has also contributed to the intermittent closure of schools throughout the region, with these challenges being more acute in rural areas. (8,19) Reports also suggest that children lacking birth certificates or other formal documentation have been denied access to public schools. Although it is unclear how widespread this issue is, research suggests that it is most common in the northeastern region and rural areas. (9)

Although free and compulsory education is federally mandated by the Education Act, little enforcement of compulsory education laws occurs at the state level. School fees are often charged in practice, and the cost of materials can be prohibitive for families. (4,9) When families experience economic hardship, the enrollment of boys is typically prioritized over the enrollment of girls. Other barriers to education include a lack of trained teachers, sexual harassment, inadequate sanitation facilities, poor infrastructure, and fear of abduction or attack by Boko Haram while at school, particularly for girls in the northeastern part of the country. (4,8,11,17,20,21)

II. Legal Framework for Child Labor

Nigeria has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).

Table 3. Ratification of International Conventions on Child Labor
Convention Ratification
ILO C. 138, Minimum Age
ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor
UN CRC
UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict
UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons

The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Nigeria’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including setting the minimum age for work at 12 years old.

Table 4. Laws and Regulations on Child Labor
Standard Meets International Standards Age Legislation
Minimum Age for Work No 12 Section 59(1) and 91 of the Labor Act; Sections 28, 29, and 277 of the Child's Right Act (22,23)
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work Yes 18 Sections 59 (5) and (6) of the Labor Act; Sections 28, 29, and 277 of the Child's Right Act; Sections 23 and 82 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 (22-24)
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children Yes   Sections 59–61 and 91 of the Labor Act; Section 28 of the Child's Right Act; (22,23)
Prohibition of Forced Labor Yes   Sections 13, 21–25, and 82 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015; Sections 28, 30, and 277 of the Child's Right Act; Article 34 of the Constitution (23-25)
Prohibition of Child Trafficking Yes   Sections 13, 16, 17, 21–25, and 82 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015; Sections 30, 33, and 277 of the Child's Right Act (23,24)
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Yes   Sections 13–17 and 82 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015; Section 23 of the Cybercrimes Act; Sections 30, 32, and 277 of the Child's Right Act (23-26)
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities No   Sections 25, 26, 30, and 277 of the Child's Right Act (23)
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment Yes 18 Section 28 of the Armed Forces Act; Sections 34 and 277 of the Child's Right Act (23,27)
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military N/A*    
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups No   Section 19 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (24)
Compulsory Education Age Yes 15 Sections 2 and 15 of the Education Act; Section 15 of the Child's Right Act (23,28)
Free Public Education Yes   Sections 2 and 3 of the Education Act; Section 15 of the Child's Right Act (23,28)

* Country has no conscription (27)

In 2022, five additional Nigerian Governors signed the Child Rights Act (CRA), which provides free and compulsory education for children and prohibits the use of children in illicit activities and by non-state armed groups. Each state must adopt and implement the act in its territory for the CRA to become law. (23,29,30) However, only 35 of the 36 states have adopted and implemented the CRA, leaving the state of Kano in northern Nigeria with a legal statute that does not meet international standards for the prohibition against the use of children in illicit activities. (6,23,26,29,31) Furthermore, under the CRA, certain provisions of the labor act that are not in compliance with international standard may remain in force. This includes Section 59, which sets the minimum age for employment at age 12 in contradiction to the CRA, which only permits children under age 18 to engage in light work for family members. (22,23) The minimum age for work is lower than the compulsory education age, which may encourage children to leave school before the completion of compulsory education. (22,23,28)

The Labor Act also permits children of any age to do light work in agriculture and domestic work if they are working with a family member, which does not meet international standards. Furthermore, the minimum age protections in the Labor Act do not apply to children who are self-employed or working in the informal economy. (22,32) Lastly, children are not excluded from the Terrorism Prevention Act's penalty of life imprisonment for assisting in acts of terrorism and are implicitly included as people in Section 19 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act. (24,33)

III. Enforcement of Laws on Child Labor

The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws.

Table 5. Agencies Responsible for Child Labor Law Enforcement
Organization/Agency Role & Activities
Labor Inspectorate, Ministry of Labor and Employment (MLE) Deploys labor inspectors across 36 state labor offices and the federal capital territory to enforce federal child labor laws. In 2022, carried out activities to commemorate the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor. (4,34-36)
Anti-Trafficking Agencies Enforces laws against human trafficking and exploitative labor. Coordinates with the Ministry of Women's Affairs and Social Development and state governments to provide child labor survivors with social services and reunite trafficked children with their families. (4,12,34) Operates hotlines for survivors in Abuja and each zonal command center. Includes an Investigation and Security Unit tasked with the prevention and detection of human trafficking cases. (14,20,37)
Nigeria Police Enforces all laws prohibiting forced child labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Collaborates with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking (NAPTIP) to address human trafficking issues. (4)

Labor Law Enforcement

In 2022, labor law enforcement agencies in Nigeria took action to address child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the Ministry of Labor and Employment that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including insufficient human resource allocation.

Table 6. Labor Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement 2021 2022
Labor Inspectorate Funding $515,375 (8) $859,771 (37)
Number of Labor Inspectors 1,402 (8) 1,586 (37)
Mechanism to Assess Civil Penalties Yes (22) Yes (22)
Training for Labor Inspectors Provided Yes (8) Yes (6)
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted at Worksite 10,526 (8) 17,026 (37)
Number of Child Labor Violations Found 3,234 (8) 4,088 (38)
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed 0 (39) 2 (37)
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected 0 (39) Unknown
Routine Inspections Conducted Yes (8) Yes (6)
Routine Inspections Targeted Yes (8) Unknown
Unannounced Inspections Permitted Yes (22) Yes (22)
Unannounced Inspections Conducted No (8) Yes (6)
Complaint Mechanism Exists Yes (8) Yes (6)
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services Yes (8) Yes (6)

Enforcement of child labor laws was negatively impacted by a lack of resources for inspections, including office facilities, transportation, fuel, and other necessities to carry out inspections. While a reciprocal referral mechanism between labor authorities and social services exists, research did not find mechanisms to enforce existing protections for children in the informal sector. (8,9,40,41) Research also indicates that Nigeria does not have an adequate number of labor inspectors to carry out their mandated duties. (42)

Criminal Law Enforcement

In 2022, criminal law enforcement agencies in Nigeria took actions to address child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including the allocation of resources.

Table 7. Criminal Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement 2021 2022
Training for Criminal Investigators Provided N/A (8) Yes (43)
Number of Investigations 6 (39) Unknown
Number of Prosecutions Initiated 6 (39) 0 (38)
Number of Convictions 0 (39) Unknown
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor 0 (39) Unknown
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services Yes (8) Yes (8)

While criminal law enforcement information was provided, the information was not disaggregated by age. (43) In addition, research suggests that criminal enforcement agencies are underfunded and lack the necessary resources and vehicles to access remote areas of the country for inspections. (6)

IV. Coordination of Government Efforts on Child Labor

The government has established a key mechanism to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8).

Table 8. Key Mechanism to Coordinate Government Efforts on Child Labor
Coordinating Body Role & Activities
National Steering Committee for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor Coordinates efforts to address child labor. Led by MLE and comprises representatives from seven governmental agencies, faith-based organizations, NGOs, ILO, and UNICEF. (4,9) Members are charged with leveraging resources for project implementation from their institutions and identifying synergies with other existing programs. (4,9) During the reporting period, the government established 11 Community Child Labor Monitoring Committees, which oversee child labor projects and outreach efforts. (6)
V. Government Policies on Child Labor

The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including a lack of implementation.

Table 9. Key Policies Related to Child Labor
Policy Description & Activities
NAPTIP National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2022–2026)† During the reporting period, the government adopted the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria for 2022–2026 and provided it with a $33 million budget. Provides a framework for mobilizing the action plan and all stakeholders involved in addressing human trafficking, with an emphasis on enforcement, prosecution, and provision of services to survivors. (6,9,44,45) During the reporting period, 12 action plan protection officers were trained and appointed to 6 areas throughout the country. The purpose of these officers is to assist survivors and coordinate the activities of the police forces to address human trafficking issues. (6,8,9,44,46) In addition, the action plan created and adopted a Disability Inclusion Plan in 2022, which includes procedures for an all-encompassing service delivery for survivors of human trafficking who may have a disability. (43)
National Social Behavioral Change Communication Strategy for Elimination of Child Labor in Nigeria (2020–2023) Addresses child labor at the household and community levels through awareness-raising activities. (9) Research was unable to determine whether any actions were undertaken to implement this policy during the reporting period.
National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Designed to end the recruitment and use of children by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). Aims to promote the protection of children’s rights, ensures that suspects under age 18 are treated in accordance with international law, and provides for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration for children previously associated with CJTF. (47) The UN and CJTF, with the support of the government, continued to reintegrate children during the reporting period. (45) Since the signing of the National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, the UN has reported nearly no use of children by CJTF. (9,30,45)

† Policy was approved during the reporting period.
‡ The government had other policies that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (9)

VI. Social Programs to Address Child Labor

In 2022, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including the inadequacy of efforts to address the problem in all sectors.

Table 10. Key Social Programs to Address Child Labor
Program Description & Activities
NAPTIP Shelters for Human Trafficking Victims† Government-funded program that operates 10 shelters in Nigeria, capable of housing up to 315 trafficking survivors. Shelters provide legal, medical, and psychological services, as well as vocational training and business management skills, along with referring survivors to NGOs for additional care. (12,13,15) However, research found concerns regarding the conditions in shelters housing human trafficking survivors. These conditions include poor housing facilities, a lack of food, and insufficient stipends, along with reports of survivors being held against their will for extended periods at shelters run by NAPTIP. (41,48) During the reporting period, a new 28-bed shelter was developed while another shelter was renovated. In addition, NAPTIP hosted two co-mentoring sessions for survivors of human trafficking so that the government could provide a platform for survivors to engage with each other and discuss with government officials how to best support them. (44)
Accelerating Action for the Elimination of Child Labor in Supply Chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa) (2018–2022) ILO-sponsored regional project aimed at eliminating child labor in supply chains, with particular focus on those involved in the production of cocoa, coffee, cotton, gold, and tea. Collaborated with global supply chain actors working in Africa on public policy, good governance, empowerment, representation, partnership, and knowledge sharing. (5,50) During the reporting period, the ACCEL AFRICA project sponsored a regional conference that brought together 14 African countries to discuss best practices for eliminating child labor. (6,50)
World Bank-Funded Programs Projects aimed to improve access to education. Include: National Social Safety Nets Project (2016–2022), a $50 million project that aimed to provide primary school lunches and offered conditional cash transfers based on children's enrollment; and the Better Education Service Delivery for All (2017–2022), a $611 million project that aimed to increase access to education for out-of-school youth and improve literacy. (51-54) In 2022, the National Social Safety Nets Project enrolled participants in all 36 states across the country and delivered cash transfers to 2.7 million households. (54) Since its inception, the Better Education Service Delivery for All project has helped reduce the number of out-of-school children by 924,590, of which 633,772 were girls. (53,55)

For information about USDOL’s projects to address child labor around the world, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/ilab-project-page-search

† Program is funded by the Government of Nigeria.

During the reporting period, the government conducted a national child labor survey that helped improve knowledge and awareness surrounding child labor. (6,56) However, research found no evidence of programs to address all relevant worst forms of child labor, including the use of children in armed conflict, quarrying granite, artisanal mining, and commercial sexual exploitation. (9)

VII. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor

Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Nigeria (Table 11).

Table 11. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor
Area Suggested Action Year(s) Suggested
Legal Framework Raise the minimum age for work from 12 to 15 to align with the compulsory education age. 2012 – 2022
  Ensure that national legislation on the minimum age for work is consistent so that all children are protected, including those in the informal sector and who are self-employed. 2012 – 2022
  Harmonize the Child's Right Act and the Labor Act to ensure that their legal provisions do not contradict each other, including provisions on minimum age for work and light work. 2022
  Ensure that using, procuring, and offering a child for the production and trafficking of drugs are criminally prohibited in all states. 2015 – 2022
  Ensure that the law criminally prohibits the recruitment of children under age 18 by non-state armed groups. 2016 – 2022
  Ensure that provisions related to light work conform to international standards by putting restrictions on domestic and agricultural work. 2009 – 2022
  Amend the Terrorism Prevention Act to prohibit the punishment of children for their association with armed groups. 2016 – 2022
Enforcement Increase the number of inspectors from 1,402 to 4,885 to ensure adequate coverage of the labor force. 2016 – 2022
  Ensure that labor inspectors and enforcement agencies receive sufficient resources, including funding, resources for inspections, office facilities, transportation, fuel, and other necessities, to enforce child labor laws. 2016 – 2022
  Establish a mechanism to enforce existing protections for children working in the informal sector. 2009 – 2022
  Publish information on child labor law enforcement, including whether penalties were imposed and collected for child labor violations and whether targeted routine inspections were conducted. 2020 – 2022
  Publish disaggregated information on criminal law enforcement, including training for criminal investigators, number of investigations, prosecutions initiated, convictions, and imposed penalties for violations related to the worst forms of child labor. 2021 – 2022
Coordination Ensure that the National Steering Committee for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor is active and able to carry out their mandates as intended. 2018 – 2022
Government Policies Ensure that activities are undertaken to implement government policies and that data on these activities are published during the reporting period, specifically the National Social Behavioral Change Communication Strategy for Elimination of Child Labor in Nigeria (2020–2023). 2021 – 2022
Social Programs Ensure that all states adopt programs to offer free education and expand existing programs that provide funds to vulnerable children, especially girls, to cover school fees and the cost of materials. 2014 – 2022
  Establish a robust mechanism to ensure that children are provided birth documentation so they are able to attend school. 2020 – 2022
  Ensure that there is an adequate number of trained teachers and provide sufficient educational infrastructure for children, particularly girls, to access schools. 2015 – 2022
  Ensure that there are proper protection protocols in place to keep schools safe, including from acts of terrorism and sexual violence. 2022
  Ensure that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters and related agencies provide appropriate facilities and resources, including livable stipends and adequate housing, to survivors, and that survivors are not held against their will in shelters. 2019 – 2022
  Establish programs that prevent and remove children from all relevant worst forms of child labor, including armed conflict, commercial sexual exploitation, and gold mining. 2009 – 2022
References
  1. UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 28, 2023. For more information, please see “Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
    http://data.uis.unesco.org/
  2. ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from General Household Survey, 2019. Analysis received March 2023. Please see “Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
  3. Government of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. List of Hazardous Child Labour in Nigeria. 2013.
    https://www.labour.gov.ng/Doc/HAZARDOUS_LIST_OF_CHILD_LABOUR.pdf
  4. U.S. Embassy- Abuja. Reporting. March 5, 2019.
  5. ILO. Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa). November 15, 2018.
    https://www.ilo.org/africa/technical-cooperation/accel-africa/lang--en/index.htm
  6. U.S. Embassy- Abuja. Reporting. April 24, 2023.
  7. Ofuoku, Albert Ukaro et al. Child Labor in Farming Households in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. SAGE Publications: Los Angeles, CA. December 3, 2019.
    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0169796X19873744
  8. U.S. Embassy- Abuja. Reporting. March 21, 2022.
  9. U.S. Embassy- Abuja. Reporting. February 2, 2021.
  10. Global Rights Nigeria official. Interview with USDOL official. May 7, 2018. Source on file.
  11. Abubakar, Ali Abare. Child labor continues to be a pressing problem in Nigeria. Girls are especially at risk. July 30, 2018.
    https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-07-30/child-labor-continues-be-pressing-problem-nigeria-girls-are-especially-risk
  12. UNHCR. End of visit statement, Nigeria (3–10 September) by Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. September 10, 2018.
    https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23526&LangID=E
  13. U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2018: Nigeria. Washington, D.C., June 28, 2018.
    https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-trafficking-in-persons-report/nigeria/
  14. U.S. Embassy- Abuja. Reporting. March 25, 2019.
  15. U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2020: Nigeria. Washington, D.C., June 14, 2020.
    https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-trafficking-in-persons-report/nigeria/
  16. Human Rights Watch. Nigeria - World Report 2020.
    https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/nigeria#
  17. Plan International. Adolescent Girls in crisis: Voices from the Lake Chad Basin. August 29, 2018.
    https://plan-international.org/publications/adolescent-girls-crisis-lake-chad-basin
  18. UN Security Council. Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict. A/76/871–S/2022/493. June 23, 2022.
    Source on File.
  19. UNICEF. UNICEF warns of Nigerian education crisis as world celebrates International Day of Education amid COVID-19 concerns. January 22, 2022.
    https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/press-releases/unicef-warns-nigerian-education-crisis-world-celebrates-international-day-education#:~:text=It is estimated that 35,attend secondary school in 2021.
  20. U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2019: Nigeria. Washington, D.C., June 20, 2019.
    https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-TIP-Report-Narratives-N-S.pdf
  21. Oduah, Chika. Fear Still Grips Dapchi Girls' School in Nigeria. May 21, 2018.
    https://www.voanews.com/a/nigeria-school-girls-afraid-boko-haram-will-return/4402815.html
  22. Government of Nigeria. Labour Act (Chapter 198) (No. 21), as amended. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (1990 Revised edition), Vol. X, Cap. 198. Enacted: 1990.
    http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/WEBTEXT/42156/64980/E7RNGA01.htm#p3
  23. Government of Nigeria. Child's Right Act, No. 26. Enacted: July 31, 2003. Source on file.
  24. Government of Nigeria. Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act. Enacted: March 26, 2015.
    http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_isn=101267&p_country=NGA&p_count=237&p_classification=03&p_classcount=3
  25. Government of Nigeria Nigeria's Constitution of 1999 with Amendments through 2011 Source on File.
    https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Nigeria_2011.pdf?lang=en
  26. Government of Nigeria. Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015. Enacted: 2015.
    http://nigerianlawguru.com/legislations/STATUTES/CYBERCRIME ACT 2015.pdf
  27. Government of Nigeria. Armed Forces Act. Enacted: 1994. Source on file.
  28. Government of Nigeria. Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, 05-26. Enacted: 2004.
    https://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/sites/default/files/ressources/compendium-of-education-sector-laws-in-nigeria-third-edition-vol.1-2.pdf
  29. Ogunniyi, Daniel. There are still huge gaps in Nigeria’s efforts to protect children. The Conversation; University of Nottingham. November 24, 2019.
    https://theconversation.com/there-are-still-huge-gaps-in-nigerias-efforts-to-protect-children-127031
  30. UN Reporting. March 2022. Source on file.
  31. Ettang, Ifiok. Child Labor Still Prevalent in Nigeria, Despite Legislative Efforts. Jos, Nigeria: VOA. January 13, 2020.
    https://www.voanews.com/africa/child-labor-still-prevalent-nigeria-despite-legislative-efforts
  32. ILO Committee of Experts. Observation concerning Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)- Nigeria (ratification: 2002). Published: 2018.
    https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3340396:NO
  33. Government of Nigeria. Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act. Enacted: 2013.
    https://placng.org/i/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Terrorism-Prevention-Amendment-Act-2013.pdf
  34. U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2018: Nigeria. Washington, D.C., March 13, 2019.
    https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/nigeria/
  35. ILO. ILO Supports Nigeria in Achieving its 2021 Action Pledge on the Elimination of Child Labour. April 18, 2021.
    https://www.ilo.org/africa/technical-cooperation/accel-africa/nigeria/WCMS_798446/lang--en/index.htm
  36. ILO Nigeria organizes a media engagement event to commemorate the 2022 World Day Against Child Labour. July 28, 2022
    https://www.ilo.org/africa/countries-covered/nigeria/WCMS_853115/lang--en/index.htm
  37. U.S. Embassy- Abuja. Reporting. April 26, 2023.
  38. U.S. Embassy - Abuja. E-mail communication to DOL official. June 12, 2023.
  39. U.S. Embassy- Lagos official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. July 1, 2022.
  40. U.S. Embassy- Abuja official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. January 14, 2020.
  41. Adebayo, Bukola. Rescued trafficked women held in 'abhorrent' conditions in Nigerian shelters, new report says. Lagos, Nigeria, CNN. August 27, 2019.
    https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/27/africa/nigeria-human-trafficking-hrw-report-intl/index.html
  42. CIA. The World Factbook. February 20, 2018. Please see “Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
    https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/
  43. U.S. Embassy- Abuja. TIP Reporting. April 6, 2023.
  44. Government of Nigeria. NAPTIP: Director General’s One Year Performance Report. September 2022.
    https://naptip.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/naptip_report_sep21-sep22.pdf
  45. U.S. Embassy- Abuja. TIP Reporting. March 7, 2022.
  46. National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons. NAPTIP Action Plan. 2019. Source on file.
  47. Government of Nigeria. Integrating DDRR into the PCVE Policy and National Action Plan. 2017. Source on file.
  48. Human Rights Watch. “You Pray for Death:” Trafficking of Women and Girls in Nigeria. August 27, 2019.
    https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/08/27/you-pray-death/trafficking-women-and-girls-nigeria
  49. UN Security Council. Children and armed conflict, Report of the Secretary-General. May 6, 2021.
    https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/N2111309.pdf
  50. ILO. Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa). February 22, 2023.
    https://www.ilo.org/africa/technical-cooperation/accel-africa/lang--en/index.htm
  51. World Bank. Implementation Status and Results of the National Social Safety Nets Project. June 25, 2020.
    http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/694981593133408730/text/Disclosable-Version-of-the-ISR-National-Social-Safety-Nets-Project-P151488-Sequence-No-08.txt
  52. World Bank. Implementation and Status Report for the Nigeria Partnership for Education Project. December 9, 2020.
    http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/321551607526325466/text/Disclosable-Version-of-the-ISR-Nigeria-Partnership-for-Education-Project-P143842-Sequence-No-11.txt
  53. World Bank. Implementation and Status Report for the Better Education Service Delivery for All Project. January 6, 2021.
    http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/503521609964545525/text/Disclosable-Version-of-the-ISR-Better-Education-Service-Delivery-for-All-P160430-Sequence-No-06.txt
  54. World Bank. Implementation Status and Results of the National Social Safety Nets Project. December 22, 2022.
    https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099940212222238046/pdf/P1514880cf83920a80b80307740d742e16d.pdf
  55. World Bank. Implementation and Status Report for the Better Education Service Delivery for All Project. October 21, 2021.
    https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/943821634759774228/pdf/Disclosable-Version-of-the-ISR-Better-Education-Service-Delivery-for-All-P160430-Sequence-No-07.pdf
  56. ILO. Measurement, Awareness Raising, and Policy Engagement (MAP 16) Project on Child Labor and Forced Labor Project Description. 2023.
    https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/projects/MAP16