Social and Health Consequences of Child Labour: Implications for Sustainable National Development in Nigeria

The adverse effects of child labour on the children’s psychosocial development continue to pose grave concerns about the overall quest for sustainable national development in most low-income countries including Nigeria. Exposing a working child to sexual abuse and direct experience of ill-health status have been severally put forward by child protection specialists, researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies. However, few studies have empirically documented its implications for a sustainable national development in the extant Nigerian literature. Hence, this study sought to examine the social and health consequences of child labour and its implications for a sustainable national development in Nigeria. Against this backdrop, a cross-sectional survey study was carried out in Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State, South-western, Nigeria. 400 Questionnaires were administered to all consenting children. The cross-sectional survey involved a four-stage sampling technique, a total of 389 children, 228 males, and 161 females, participated in the survey. Their age range was 6-17 years. Data were analysed using the descriptive statistic and Chi-Square (χ ) analytical tools to test the level of significant difference. Findings show a significant relationship between child involvement in child labour and experience of sexual abuse and exposure to the ill-health status at the level of (0.001) and (0.032) significant difference which is less than the p-value of 0.005. We recommended that implementation of child’s right and protection policy should be given effective and adequate priority for Nigeria to be able to achieve a sustainable national development.