If you never consider age as one of the criteria in choosing domestic helps, now you have to take it serious. The new Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 assented by President Goodluck Jonathan now forbids anyone to employ the services of children under the age of 12 as domestic helps.
Director-General of the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Person, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba told journalists at her office in Abuja today that offenders will be jailed for about 2-10 years.
“What we have done is to introduce a minimum sentence status. For instance, if you engage a child of below 12 years, there is compulsory imprisonment of not less than two years. There is no option of fine. The fine is in addition to imprisonment.
“The judge, of course, also have the discretion to impose five or 10 years, depending on the circumstances and severe abuse.” She affirmed