1999 Country Report on Economic Policy and Trade Practices - Nigeria Released by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs U.S. Department of State, March 2000

e. Acceptable Conditions of Work: Nigeria's 1974 labor decree established a 40-hour workweek, prescribed 2 to 4 weeks of annual leave, set a minimum wage, and stipulated that workers are to be paid extra for hours worked over the legal limit. The decree states that workers who work on Sundays and legal holidays must be paid a full day's pay in addition to their normal wages. There is no law prohibiting excessive compulsory overtime. In 1998, the federal government raised for all federal employees the minimum monthly wage (salary and allowances) to N5, 280.00 (USD 60) from N450 (USD 5.00). The government later reversed the decision and reduced the minimum wage to N3,500.00 (USD 35) for federal workers and N3000.00 (USD 30) for state workers. However, many states are unable, or unwilling to pay the new minimum wage. Widespread reports of empty state treasuries inherited by the new civilian government threaten their ability to pay the new salary. Despite this, the Obasanjo government is considering plans to further increase the minimum wage. The 1974 decree contains general health and safety provisions. Employers must compensate injured workers and dependent survivors of those killed in industrial accidents but enforcement of these laws by the ministry of labor is largely ineffective.

-----------------------------031144697856008 Content-Disposition: form-data; name="userfile"; filename=""