By BUKOLA ADETOYE

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Lagos Command, on Tuesday said it would clamp down on restaurants and beer parlours that engaged children as workers.

The Commander, NAPTIP Lagos Command, Mrs Comfort Agboko, announced this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

She said the agency would beam its search light on restaurants and beer parlours to get such employers of child labour.

Agboko said it was wrong to engage children below 12 years as domestic workers.

“This agency through its enlightenment programme hsd many times stressed that it was wrong to engage children as workers.

“Any parent that willingly give his or her child out to such employers is as guilty,” she said .

According to the commander, the law that set up the agency prohibits the employment of under 12 years child as domestic worker.

“Anyone found guilty of employing such child is liable to seven years imprisonment.” She said.

“The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, which set up NAPTIP, prohibits all forms of slavery and slavery-like activities,” she said.

She, however, encourage parents to strive hard to give their wards quality education instead of using them to make money.

She decried that some of the children engaged were being abused by men, trafficked by unknown persons.

Agboko said the agency remained committed to fighting all forms of human trafficking in the country.