Cross River contested a survey report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that claimed it had the highest incidence of child labor in Nigeria, with 67.4 percent, followed by Yobe with 62.6 percent. The NBS labeled child labor as any activity depriving children under 18 of their childhood, potential, or dignity, and affecting their physical and mental development.

The Commissioner for Information in Cross River, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, refuted the report, stating that the figures didn't reflect the reality in Cross River. He argued that since assuming office in May 2023, the government had implemented measures to discourage child labor and uplift vulnerable populations, focusing on health, education, agriculture, and empowerment initiatives. These initiatives included economic empowerment for women and youth, particularly in agriculture and small-scale enterprises, alongside programs like school feeding to encourage school attendance.

Ekpang urged the NBS to review its 2022 figures, suggesting they were outdated. The NBS report highlighted that over 14 million children were engaged in hazardous work, with rural areas having a higher prevalence of child labor. In rural areas, 44.8 percent of children were involved, compared to 30 percent in urban areas. Hazardous work was also more common in rural settings, with 26.8 percent of rural children engaged in such activities, compared to 16.3 percent in urban areas.

The report further detailed the distribution of child labor across Nigeria's geopolitical zones, with the Northwest having the highest number of children engaged in labor, followed by the Northeast, North Central, South-South, Southwest, and Southeast regions.

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