Work conditions in Nigeria

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

The general work week is 40 hours, with all workers entitled to two to four weeks of annual leave, overtime and paid leave. This does not apply for agricultural and domestic workers.

Retirement Age

There is no universal legal retirement age set by law; it depends on the specific terms of employment. For the civil service, the mandatory retirement age is typically 60 or after 35 years of service.

Working Contracts

The Labour Code provides that the employer must give employees a written report within three months of the employee contract coming into force. The contract must include information such as the location of the employer and the employee, the position, a job description including working hours, compensation, vacation allowance and holiday pay, etc. Three-quarters of Nigerians work in the informal and agricultural sectors or are unemployed.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, A summary of the labour regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

The national minimum wage is NGN 70,000 per month (approx. USD 45), as established by the National Minimum Wage Act 2024 signed by the President and effective as of 19 July 2024.

Average Wage

The average monthly salary in Nigeria is estimated to be within the range of 80,000 to 150,000 Nigerian Naira (NGN), which translates to approximately USD 190 to USD 355.

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 7.5%
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 7.5%

Social Partners

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Unions tend to resolve issues related to working conditions, wages, benefits, health and safety measures quickly through negotiations. Collective bargaining in the oil and gas sector is also relatively efficient compared to other sectors.

Labour Unions

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)

Unionisation Rate

Approximately 30% of the total labour force in the public and formal private sectors is unionised. However, workers in the agricultural sector are not unionsied and make up  more than half of the workforce.

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Labour and Employment