A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF CHILD LABOUR ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PERCEPTION IN THE MEDIUM AND LOW INCOME NEIGHBOURHOODS IN MINNA

Abstract

This paper examines child labour activities in Minna metropolis and tries to compare its effect on environmental quality perception of child labourers in the low and medium income neighbourhoods. It utilizes the use of primary and secondary data obtained through structured questionnaire with analysis displayed in tables. The research indicates that children of the poor in the society dominate all categories of child labour in Minna and there is little or no disparity in the environmental quality perception of child labourer in both neighbourhoods. It also points out that difference in the class of neighbourhood is not a measure of environmental perception of child labourer; it’s very much closer to their level of education. The paper therefore stress that the underlying cause of child labour is poverty of parents and recommend for government intervention in job creation through purposeful financing and monitoring of poverty eradication programmes, heavy investment in education; free basic education for all and public enlightenment on the menace of child labour.