‌Gombe: NHRC advocates collective action to tackle child labour

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Gombe State, has called for collective actions to end child labour syndrome in agriculture.

Dr Joseph Wanshe, the State Coordinator of the commission, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Tuesday.

This came against the backdrop of indiscriminate use of children as farm labourers in rural communities in the state.

The children were being hired to carry out farm activities such as ploughing, planting, weeding, fertiliser application and harvesting.

Wanshe said the call is imperative in view of the negative impacts of the work on child health, education, safety and development.

He stressed that stakeholders have a crucial role in ensuring that all children grow up in dignity.

The coordinator described child labour as a human rights abuse, which involves children performing hazardous work likely to harm their health or limit their education.

“As farmers commence preparation for the 2026 wet season farming, it is important that we remind them of the need to stop engaging children for farm activities.

“It’s a human rights violation that must be discontinued because every child deserves a life of dignity and right to education, proper health and development.

“Child labour in agriculture is a serious issue which affects children’s education because during school hours and leisure time, they are working on farms.

“A lot of hazards are involved as those children are mostly exposed to human rights risk like drug abuse, sexual exploitation, among others.

“This is why we must work together to tackle the menace in the interest of the protection of the rights of children in the state,” he said.

According to Wanshe, the commission is engaging relevant government agencies and community stakeholders to tackle the menace.

He enjoined parents to enrol their children in schools, adding that educating children would increase their chances of a brighter future.

While commending the state government for improving school facilities in rural areas and free education programme, Wanshe lauded residents of the state for improved reportage of human rights violations.