Residents of Benue State have called on the state government to take action that would eliminate any form of activities that constitute child Labour in the state, in commemoration of the 2026 International Day Against Child Labour.

The residents were of the view that enforcing the law through domestication and strengthening social cohesion, can only obviate consequences and enable the child live a normal life, as many living a life against their will.

While Child Labour has been defined as exploitative, about 25 million Nigerian children. within the age of five and 17 years, are into child Labour, according to the United Nations. Many of them working under extreme temperatures, deep underground work in mining sites, using machinery, hawking on tee streets, exposure to chemicals and working in large farms. Noted that these activities has often denied them access to quality education. The stakeholders say government must protect the dignity of child through the child right law.

The Benue State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists. Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, called on State governments that are yet to domesticate the child right law, to do so, to support the child. He stressed that due to poverty of the parents, insecurity and among others has forced many into trafficking, armed conflicts and commercial sexual exploitation.