Abstract
Child labour is a menace that is prevalent in Nigeria from pre-colonial times and has been fueled in recent times by socio-economic factors especially poverty. Children who are victims of communal clashes, terrorism, poverty and disaster have higher risks of being plunged into child labour. The aim of this paper is to examine the issue of child labour in Nigeria from a human rights perspective. It examined the nature of child labour in Nigeria, the legislative framework relating to child labour in Nigeria. Thus, the paper examined the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the Child Rights Act 2003, the Labour Act 2004, the Violence Against Person (Prohibition) Act 2015, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, and the United Nations Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour 1999. It identified and discussed the challenges to eradicating child labour one of which is the inconsistencies that exist between the Child Right Act 2003 and the Labour Act 2004. The paper recommended among others the amendment of the Labour Act 2004 to reflect the ideals of the Child Right Act 2003 which are consistent with international legal provisions.
Keywords: Children, Child Labour, Child’s Right, And Human Rights.