We’ll clamp down on ‘firms’ that employ children, says NAPTIP

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Lagos Command, says it will clamp down on organisations that engage children as workers. 

Comfort Agboko, the commander, NAPTIP Lagos Command, spoke to NAN on Tuesday.

Agboko said the agency would beam its light on restaurants and beer parlours to apprehend employers of child labour.

She noted that it was wrong to engage children below 12 years as workers.

“This agency through its enlightenment programme had many times stressed that it was wrong to engage children as workers,” she said.

“Any parent that willingly gives his or her child out to such employers is as guilty. Anyone found guilty of employing such a child is liable to seven years imprisonment.

“The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, which set up NAPTIP, prohibits all forms of slavery and slavery-like activities.”

She lamented that some of the children engaged were being abused by men, and trafficked by unknown persons.

Agboko encouraged parents to give their wards quality education instead of using them to make money.

She said the agency remains committed to fighting all forms of human trafficking in the country.

In 2003, former Pesident Olusegun Obasanjo signed the Child Rights Act into law. The law aims at protecting children from exploitative labour and preserving their rights.

However, years down the line, child labour is still ongoing in different parts of Nigeria with children being put through hard labour to earn money to support their families.