By Safiyat Muhammed | Abuja | Nigeria News Today
US Report Highlights Minimum Wage Challenges and Human Rights Concerns in Nigeria
A recent US Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2024 has raised concerns over Nigeria’s implementation of its new minimum wage and broader human rights issues. The report, released by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, noted that the recently approved N70,000 ($47.9) minimum wage for federal workers has been largely eroded due to the devaluation of the Naira, which has now surpassed N1,500/$1.
“The law provided for a national minimum wage for public and private sector employers with 25 or more full-time employees, with exceptions for seasonal agricultural workers, part-time workers, those on commission, and some others,” the report said.
The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024 doubled the wage to N70,000, but the report pointed out that currency devaluation has reduced its real value, leaving many workers below the poverty income level. Additionally, businesses with fewer than 25 employees were not covered by the new legislation.
Some states reportedly refused to implement the minimum wage, citing financial constraints. While the law mandates a 40-hour workweek, annual leave, and overtime pay, enforcement has been inconsistent. The report also noted that penalties for violations are relatively low and often ineffective.
“Between 70 and 80 per cent of the country’s working population worked in the informal economy. Authorities did not enforce wage, hour, and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) laws in the informal sector or with part-time workers,” the report highlighted.
The report also flagged child marriage, stating that although 18 is the federal legal age for marriage, some states allow children as young as 11 to marry under customary or religious law. The government has engaged religious leaders to raise awareness of the health hazards of early marriage.
On law enforcement, the report cited instances of disappearances and arbitrary arrests, particularly referencing Amnesty International’s findings on the former SARS police station in Anambra State. Prolonged pretrial detention and lack of access to legal counsel were reported as ongoing issues. Security forces were also noted to sometimes bypass due process, and administrative inefficiencies such as lost case files and backlogs often prolonged detention.
“Some detainees were held in pretrial detention for periods equal or exceeding the maximum sentence for the accused crime. The shortage of trial judges, trial backlogs, endemic corruption, bureaucratic inertia, and undue political influence seriously hampered the judicial system,” the report said.
For continuous coverage of Nigeria News Today including updates on wage policies, human rights, and governance, follow The Bureau News, your trusted source for in-depth reporting.