The kid labourers of Kebbi

Written by Duncan Monday, 15 August 2011

In many developed countries it is considered inappropriate or exploitative if a child below a certain age works outside the context of household chores, in a family shop, or school-related work. However, Daily Trust gathered that some  children  in Kebbi find excitement  by  engaging  in cutting grass and selling same  in order to make ends meet.

According to  UNICEF an estimated 158 million children aged between 5 and 14 are engaged in child labour. That means one in every six children in the world is a victim of child labour. The break-down shows that in Sub-Saharan Africa there are  69 million, while in South Asia, another 44 million are engaged in child labour.

The findings may sound exaggerated and the onus of verifying such claim may not be saddled on erudite scholars. Research reveals that millions of children are engaged in hazardous situations including working in mines or with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture, and sometimes with dangerous machinery.  Children toil as domestic servants in homes, labouring behind the walls of workshops, hidden from view in plantations and many more.

An employer is usually not permitted to hire a child below a certain minimum age. This minimum age depends on the country and the type of work involved. States ratifying the Minimum Age Convention adopted by the International Labor Organization in 1973, have adopted minimum ages varying from 14 to 16.

Except for the agricultural industry where children as young as 12 years of age can work in the fields for an unlimited number of non-school hours, as contained in the  Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (CARE Act); but most countries’ Child labor laws set the minimum age to work in an establishment, without restrictions and without parents’ consent, at age 16.

According to the World Bank the incidence of child labour in the world decreased from 25 to 10 percent between 1960 and 2003, children living in the poorest households and in rural areas, are most likely to be engaged in child labour.

Kebbi state may fall among the states of the North with  less economic activities compounded by  the absence of  a functional air or sea port.

Located at the extreme end of  the North West of Nigeria,  Kebbi people have Agriculture as a  major occupation.  Children in the area  are  equally engaged in some agricultural activities based on their capacities.

Degere junction popularly called “lamba” is a strategic location in Kebbi State. It is the  junction that links the major towns of Argungu, Gwandu and the State capital - Birnin-Kebbi. With the coming of  the raining season, and as the place serves as an important meeting point for the commuters plying the road to the state Capital; children aged between 11 and 15 who resides in locations of  the nearby villages, which include  Dangarso, Dabire and Dagere do not underrate the opportunity to sell. They converge at the junction every evening to sell  grass which they get as weed from farms or taken out from bush.

Usman Aliyu aged 15 is a pupil of class 4 in  the Degere model Primary school. He tells Daily Trust that  it  was his mother who asked him to go and cut the grass for sale. According to him the money generated from the sale of grass would be used to buy clothes and shoes for the forthcoming Sallah celebrations. He added that his going to cut grass could not prevent him from going to school.

Another child who gave his name as Shafi’u Umaru of 11  years, said he generates  between N60 to N70 and when the market is alive, he can even get up to a N100.  daily for cutting grass to sell. He added that he always goes  to Fadama and brings  it  to Lamba for sale.

He said he is doing the business to get money to buy clothes.  Shafi’u who is not  yet  enrolled into the primary school, expressed optimism that he will dedicate his time to study when sent  to school. He also admitted that he cannot  go to school now because of being preoccupied with Fadama work.

In more convincing terms Bilali Salihu, 13, said he comes to the place because he assists his parents with the little money in satisfying their daily demands. The money  that accumulates  from such tasking work would enable him to contribute to his parents, for them to buy clothes for the  Sallah celebrations. However, Bilali regrets  not enrolling into primary school, but said he is currently studying at the Islamiyya school in  his  locality.

The version of Farida  12, is not different from that of her male counterparts. She, like most of the males, travels up to 7 to 10 kilometers a day in search of the grass. They tell  Daily Trust that they use hands to  harvest  it.

Malam Idris Ahmed Indire, a father and  one of the buyers of the grass from the children, told Daily Trust that he was at the market to purchase the grass  which he will in turn give to animals. He admitted that the children contributed handsomely in reducing the  stress of going into farms to get the grass, because of being busy with farm work.

It is true that the Children help in removing weeds from the farm land, as they help economically in the area of animal rearing. This is a demonstration of the fact that children are ready to work and contribute, not only to help their parents, but boost the societal activities in relation to season and geography.

The questions that will quickly come to mind include what are the ways in which these kids can be utilized in nation building? Are there better ways to engage the children? Has the society realized the damage that might be done by introducing children  to  such levels of hardship at  an  early age?  Is there any way the  government, individuals and corporate organization could intervene?

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form