Child Trafficking: Oyo State Committee tasks Stakeholders on urgent steps

The Oyo State Steering Committee on Child Labour says certain measures must be put in place by stakeholders to end child trafficking and labour.

Arising from its quarterly meeting, the committee identified poverty and insecurity as key issues that deserve immediate and prompt attention from the government and other stakeholders.

The committee said that ”since poverty is a major factor causing child labour in the state, government must ensure that social investment programmes, created to tackle poverty, must get to the people at the grassroots.”

A communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Secretary, Mr Marcus Williams, reads in part: “Oyo State Steering Committee on Child Labour, after its quarterly meeting noted that to end child trafficking and labour in Oyo State, the following was agreed upon:

“Poverty is a major factor causing child labour, that social investment programmes should get to the grassroots.

“That insecurity has left many children homeless, abandoned and many have been trafficked to the Southwest region for exploitation and labour.

“That children and families can reach out for help through the Oyo State Parliament and the desk officers in the Ministry of Women Affairs on designated numbers.

“That as school resumes, authorities should continue to educate pupils and students on how to voice their concerns or needs.

“That parents should stop using their children for labour and exploitation, an offence punishable under the Child’s Right Law with at least 5 years imprisonment.

“That religious bodies should continue to speak to their members to stop child trafficking and labour.”

Mercy Chukwudiebere