© Impact Journals LABOUR UNIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS AND THE ELIMINATION OF

Child labour in Nigeria has been a problem that is becoming alarming in the society and also in the international community. Its elimination remains a major source of concern to the labour unions and industrial relations circles of the nation. This paper tries to look at this problem by looking at labour unions power centrality, its largeness and density of population amongst other associations in the country, to build a framework of alliance and solidarity that shows its central role as the protector of the citizen’s right to work, to fair work and treatment of workers. This could be fully enhanced into alliances, and connected networks with the civic society organizations and other meaningful groups to eliminate this modern menace of child labour. We used a comparative study method in which we used the connectedness to power of some civic associations that can change government or persuade its decisions on quick measures that could be employed to eliminate child labour in the Nigerian society. We also tested the key argument that unions power, centrality and largeness has a significant and positive effects on government, in controlling socio economic policies for the common good. Union centered, union linked civic association’s networks and connectedness can be useful in mobilizing other groups and the civil society to strengthen forces in the pursuit of a quicker implementation of measures on the elimination of the use of child labour. We highlighted therefore the important role of labour unions with its connectedness, alliance and solidarity with civic society organization in holding the government responsible to making effective policies and bein