Author(s): JANE FRANCES YAGBA | Volume 20 (1)Dec., 2023
Abstract
Apprenticeship is a system of training of persons in any industry or enterprise under a contract of apprenticeship for the purpose of skill acquisition. Any person above the age of twelve years can be an apprentice under Nigerian law. This article analyses the apprenticeship of persons below the age of 16 years. The doctrinal method of research was adopted in this research and it was found that the Labour Act regulates apprenticeship in Nigeria. However, the offences in section 53 relate to luring an apprentice away from his employer and moving a child apprentice out of Nigeria without the consent of the Minister and the penalties of five hundred naira and two hundred naira as posited therein are inadequate. Secondly, majority of the apprenticeships in Nigeria are informal in nature and are commonly practiced in the informal economy. Thirdly, apprenticeships are not monitored. It was recommended that an Apprenticeship Act should be enacted to regulate the contract of apprenticeship in Nigeria wherein adequate offences and sanctions will be provided for violations of the law or the Labour Act should be amended to provide adequate offences and sanctions for non- compliance with the provisions on apprenticeships especially on subjecting an apprentice to any work that can endanger the apprentices life or his development. In addition, contracts of apprenticeships should be written, attested to and registered in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Lastly, there should be monitoring of apprentices in all sectors in Nigeria to curb child labour.
Keywords: Apprenticeship, Contract of Apprenticeship, Child, Child Labour, Young Persons