Incidence and determinants of child labour in Nigeria: Implications for poverty alleviation
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Date
2006-06-30
Authors
Okpukpara, Benjamin Chiedozie
Odurukwe, Ngozi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research consortium
Abstract
Various official reports have established that child activity options have a link to household
poverty. Specifically, research acknowledges a two-way link between child labour and
household poverty. Some researchers argue that the increasing participation of children
in economic activities is a result of illiteracy and poverty, among other social and economic
problems. Others view such participation as an important strategy by poor households to
rise above the poverty line. In Nigeria, reports have identified an increasing incidence of
child labour, but comprehensive national analyses of the descriptive and causal factors of
the child welfare variables – schooling and work – have not been possible until now. This
study is therefore expected to fill this gap in knowledge using data from the Nigeria
Child Labour Survey, 2001.
Among the major conclusions emerging from the study is that there are structural
differences in the choice of child activity options across gender, age, sector and zones in
Nigeria. Although the evidence of a sector gap exists, the participation of children in
economic activity particularly increases in rural areas. In all the measures of poverty
used, there are also differences in child activity options across poverty status, which
points to poverty as an important variable of child welfare. Finally, there were percentage
differences in income contribution across age groups, gender and zones in Nigeria. The
econometric estimation noted that some child, parent, household and community variables
significantly affect the child activity options. Specifically the age of the child, household
composition, education of father, sector, zone and adult income determine child activity
options. Most of these contradict or support many of the findings of child labour studies
in other developing countries. Based on this it is recommended that for formulating
effective policy to reduce child labour in Nigeria, the age of the child, income status of
the household, education of the parents, and sector and zone must constitute important
variables. Also, awareness campaigns on the cost of child participation in economic
activities should be given priority. More importantly, if overall economic conditions are
not improved to lift families out of poverty, children will continue to get involved in
economic activities to enhance family income, irrespective of any regulatory or legislative
prohibitions.