FG seeks US support on school feeding programme, child labour eradication

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige,, has called on the United States of America to support the Federal Government on its school feeding programme, which is one of the pre-election promises of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC-led government.

The minister also appealed to the US government to provide technical support to the Federal Government of Nigeria in its efforts at eradicating the menace of child labour and provision of decent employment for its teeming unemployed youths.

Ngige stated that nothing stops the US Government from assisting Nigeria in building more schools as well as collaborating with Nigeria in the implementation of the school feeding programme.

This, according to the minister, could be achieved through collaborative efforts between Nigeria and the United States Department of Labour. (USDOL)

Ngige made the call when he received on working visit the new Labour Attache of the United States of America in Nigeria, Mirna Torres.

He said, “We will continue to ask for collaboration from the government of the United States of America. Nothing stops you from assisting us in building more schools as well as collaborating with us in the implementation of the school feeding and conditional cash transfer programme of President Muhammadu Buhari which are aimed at bringing succor to the vulnerable group.”

Speaking further, the minister faulted United States of America’s report that Nigeria is involved in child soldiering in its fight against Boko Haram.

He said, “Nigeria does not recruit child soldiers, rather Nigeria is fighting Boko Haram terrorist group that captures children and uses them as  soldiers and shields to fight the Nigerian army. We do not allow children to participate in the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) as well.

“Similarly, in the mining and agricultural sector we have put in place centres that monitor, report and discourage the use of children for mining.

“In view of this deliberate effort of the Federal Government, there is a significant decline in child labour in Nigeria. As much as I don’t want to fault your data but I know it is over-bloated. Nevertheless, it will spur us to put more efforts towards the eradication of child labour.”

He emphasized that Nigeria is a signatory to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 138 and 182 that prohibit child labour. Furthermore Nigeria has not only ratified (ILO) Convention 138 and 182 but has domesticated them into laws, the review of which is currently before the National Assembly for enactment into law.

The Labour Attache of the United States of America in Nigeria, Mirna Torres, revealed that Nigeria has made progress and improvement in the fight against child labour.

She added that towards consolidating on the achievements made so far, the United States is seeking to partner Nigeria in the area of workplace inspections to understand the kind of work and environment under which Nigerians work with the aim of getting first-hand information.

She said, “We see Nigeria having made modern advancement and has improved on the matter of child labour. The only thing I want to mention is if it is possible for us to work together in the future on the issues of inspections.”

“We have not been able to receive much information as to the numbers of inspectors currently working in the Ministry, where they are deployed and the kind of inspections they carried out. This is not aimed at critic but to know the kind of work Nigeria is doing and ensure we give you the credit.”