LEGAL REGIME ON CHILD LABOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA: LESSONS FOR NIGERIA

Abstract

Child labour is universal phenomenon. This paper is aimed at appraising the legal regime on same in South Africa in order to draw lessons for Nigeria. The work adopted doctrinal research method, which in the main involves critical interrogation of relevant legislation in the Republic of South Africa viz-a-viz Nigeria. It is found that the Nigerian Constitution permits girl-child marriage which is one of the worst forms of child labour in the globe. The paper recommended that the Nigerian Constitution should be altered in order to in no uncertain terms define a child as a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years. Again, the Nigerian Child’s Rights Act should apply to all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja so as to guarantee equal legal protection to all Nigerian children irrespective of each child’s state of origin, residence, sex, status and religion. In conclusion, Nigerian legislation has not granted adequate and equal legal protection to Nigerian children viz-a-viz the situation in the Republic of South Africa.