ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. (Report by Adeola Tukuru) — Federal Government yesterday said employing house-helps and domestic workers below the age of 12 is now illegal and a criminal offence in the country.
Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, made the revelation in Abuja, yesterday.
The pronouncement by the Federal Government followed the signing into law of the Trafficking in Persons’ Enforcement and Administration Act by President Goodluck Jonathan on March 26, 2015.
According to her, part of the Acts prohibits the employment of a child below the age of 12 years as domestic help, while the exploitation of a child under the age of 18 years, who is employed as a domestic help, is also prohibited.
Stating the penalty, Jedy-Agba said offenders were liable to a jail term of two years without any option of fine for both the parents and the harbourer; she also stated that the act provides stiffer punishment for aggravated circumstances like defilement of a child.
While calling for strict enforcement of the law by states, the Director General urged governors to make education compulsory and free for every Nigerian child up to 12 years.
Also speaking on the aspect of the law that pertains to appointment and tenure of the Director-General, she said the nomenclature of the Executive Secretary has been changed to Director General to reflect the command and control structure of the agency as a law enforcement agency.
“The finalisation of this process expresses the strong political commitment of government to the Trafficking in Person’s Protocol and ushers in a new dawn in the fight against trafficking in persons in Nigeria,” she said
