The Scourge of Child Labour in Ondo State and Its Social Implications

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue IX, September 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Scourge of Child Labour in Ondo State and Its Social Implications

Saka-Olokungboye, N^*, Musa, T.O.
Department of Social Sciences Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, PMB 1019, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
*Corresponding author

Abstract: – The phenomenon of child labour is a global malaise. Children all over the world have been exposed to hard and labourious tasks, some of which have been found to be dehumanizing, having serious social and health implications. This study “The scourge of child labour in Ondo State and its social implications”, is aimed at investigating the existence of child labour its causes, constraints and social implications and how to eradicate it with particular interest in Ondo State. Ondo state, is one of the states in the south-west geopolitical zone in Nigeria. The state was created in 1976. The state is bounded in the north-west by Ekiti state, west central by Osun State, South-East by Ogun and Delta states and in the South by the Atlantic Ocean. The strategic location of Ondo State has made it one of the largest, the most populated states and one of the urbanized states in Nigeria. The increase in population of Ondo State has forced many families to be engaged in human activities to avoid starvation, scavenge for living that could be described as child labour. Despite measures put in place by the federal government and NGOs to deal with the issue of child labour which includes, the Child’s Right Act (CRA) 2003, trafficking in persons (prohibition) Law enforcement and Administration Act 2003, yet child labour has persisted till date. This paper suggested that government should make legislature that would tackle the problem of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria, effective implementation of policy that would outlaw all forms of child labour and enforcement of Girl-child educational policy.

Keywords: Child Labour, Child Abuse, Ondo State and Social problems.

I. INTRODUCTION

In Nigeria, just like any other country of the world, the sight of small children toiling long hours under dehumanizing condition have caused an intense debate among policy makers, scholars and human rights activists over the past two decades. This is because children are seem as precious gifts to man by God for the progression of human race. They are very tender, fragile and gentle hence they need support, protection and tender love, care from parents and the society. In the middle of the 19th century, industrial revolution in Great Britain, public and the policy makers have attempted to come to grip with the causes and consequences of child labour. Although child labour has been in existence throughout history, the difficult conditions under which children work has become more evident.

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