Although Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria provides that “no person shall be held in slavery or servitude and no person
shall be required to perform forced labour,” the enforcement of the law seems to be lacking in recent times
Speaking with The Guardian, 15-year-old Aduni, , from a family of seven children, who hails from Saki Oke-Ogun in Oyo State, said her mother contracted an agent in Lagos who brought her to the home where she works as a house help while her monthly payment is made to the agent. “I see all these children speak, read and write in English language and I really want to be like them. I don’t want to get pregnant like my sister; I want to go to school and be like my Madam’s first daughter who says she wants to be a medical doctor.
On how she incurs loss, she explained: “Sometimes some people, mostly men, stop you to buy food. You dish the food in a takeaway plastic and they will collect and tell you to wait, point at a nearby house or shop and tell you they want to bring money from the place but before you know it they have disappeared. You go to where they pointed and the people there will say no one in such description lives or works there. I believe they take advantage of the fact that I am a small girl.
On her part, 15-year-old Joy Ogbu, who also hails from Benue State, said: “After my father left my mother to marry another woman, my mum, who weaves simple hairstyles for a living in our village, could not take care of all six of us. So, my uncle advised her to send me and my 13-year-old younger sister to work as house girls in Lagos. My uncle took me and my sister from the village and brought us to Lagos.
When asked if she is aware that taking underage girls to work is forced labour and an infringement of their fundamental rights, which is punishable under the Child Rights Act, the agent said: “I think it becomes an infringement of their rights if I go to their houses and pick them up without their parents or guardians’ consent. I don’t even go to them; their parents and guardians come to us to help employ their wards.
There are indications that increasing food insecurity and the resultant high cost of living is putting some strains on the smooth relationship between the National Assembly and the executive arm of the Federal Government. shall be required to perform forced labour,” the enforcement of the law seems to be lacking in recent times
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