The Lagos State Government has expressed concern over the rising incidence of exploitation and child labour at construction sites in the state.
The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, (LASPPPA), General Manager, Mr Kehinde Osinaike, expressed the concern in a statement, signed by the Agency’s spokesperson, Mrs Abimbola Emdin-Umeh, on Friday in Lagos.
Osinaike said that the Monitoring and Compliance Unit of the authority made the observation of the child labour in all its 41 district offices across the state, during its weekly enforcement exercise.
According to him, the authority is against the act and has called on property owners and developers to desist from using children as labourers at construction sites.
He described the act as “child abuse.”.
“Child abuse, which is the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their childhood, also includes the use of underage persons for construction works which is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful,” Osinaike said.
He urged construction stakeholders to shun the practice in order not to expose underage children to physical activities that were beyond their abilities or that could make them susceptible to physical disabilities.
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The General Manager urged all property owners and developers in the state to always engage experienced professionals in the built sector before embarking on any project.
The Director, Monitoring and Compliance Unit, Mr Iyiola Olarinde, advised contractors to also consider the security aspect, by ensuring they got details of who they engaged as labourers on their sites.
He urged property owners and developers to always ensure construction workers on site were properly kitted, donning their safety hamlet, safety boots and reflective jackets.
District areas covered by recent enforcement drives include Oriade, Eti-Osa South and North, Ifako-Ijaiye and Ajah.
Other areas are Amuwo, Surulere, Egbe-Idimu, Oshodi, Kosofe, Agboyi Ketu/Ikosi, Yaba, Mushin, Ojodu and Ikota.
(NAN)
