Cross River has strongly refuted a recent survey report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that claimed it had the highest incidence of child labour in Nigeria.
According to the NBS report, Cross River recorded a child labour incidence of 67.4%, ranking it highest among the states surveyed.
The Commissioner for Information in Cross River State, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, dismissed these figures as inaccurate and not representative of the true situation in Cross River.
He emphasized that the government of Cross River has implemented various measures since assuming office in May 2023 to combat child labour and support vulnerable populations, particularly in areas such as health, education, agriculture, and economic empowerment.
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Mr. Ekpang highlighted specific initiatives aimed at empowering women economically to deter them from sending their children to work as child labourers.
He mentioned programs in agriculture and small-scale enterprises, as well as school feeding programs designed to keep children in school.
The commissioner urged the National Bureau of Statistics to review its 2022 figures and make necessary corrections based on the state’s efforts to address child labour and support its citizens.
The NBS report also revealed concerning statistics about child labour nationwide, indicating that more than 14 million affected children were engaged in hazardous work.
The survey highlighted higher rates of child labour in rural areas compared to urban areas, with the Northwest geopolitical zone having the highest number of children engaged in labour.
Cross River’s response underscores the importance of accurate data and ongoing efforts to address child labour and improve the well-being of vulnerable populations across Nigeria.
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