IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
By Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Senate has passed, for second reading, a critical bill aimed at regulating and formalizing the employment of domestic workers, apprentices, interns, and other employees in the informal sector.
Sponsored by Senator Musa Mohammad Sani (Niger East), the bill also seeks to empower the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to license and monitor privately owned employment agencies across the country.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to Regulate and Formalize the Employment of Domestic Workers, Apprenticeships, Interns and Other Informal Sector Employees, and to Empower the National Directorate of Employment to Issue Licenses and Monitor Privately Owned Employment Agencies in Nigeria and for Other Related Matters, 2025 (SB 629),” the proposed legislation aims to sanitize a sector often criticized for poor labor practices and widespread violations of employee rights.
In his lead debate, Senator Musa highlighted the pressing need to bring dignity and regulation to Nigeria’s informal labor market, which includes millions of domestic workers, artisans, and apprentices who currently lack legal protections.
“The primary goal of this bill is to regulate the sector, promote decent work, fair wages, equal treatment, and ensure safety and social protection for all workers,” Senator Musa said. “This will align Nigeria’s labor practices with international labor standards as outlined by the International Labour Organization (ILO), to which Nigeria is a signatory.”
He stressed that despite Nigeria’s commitment to ILO conventions, decent work deficits remain prevalent, especially in the informal sector. Workers are often subjected to poor working conditions, job insecurity, and lack of access to training or benefits.
The bill empowers the NDE to license employment agencies operating in Nigeria. Agencies would be required to submit detailed documentation—including business registration, financial statements, operational guidelines, employee records, and proof of legal standing to qualify for licensing.
“The NDE shall, upon application, issue a license after ensuring the agency complies with all necessary requirements,” Musa explained. “This includes due diligence to confirm that the agency has no criminal background and meets standards of operation.”
The bill also proposes that designated officers of the NDE serve as licensing officers, with clearly defined jurisdictions and responsibilities.
While many senators expressed strong support for the bill’s intent, several raised procedural and structural concerns. Senator Adams Oshiomhole pointed out that a similar bill had previously been considered and passed through public hearings, with recommendations already submitted to the Senate Secretariat.
“The contents of this bill mirror a previous one already debated. The main difference is that this version seeks to vest authority in the NDE, while the earlier bill was placed under the Ministry of Labour,” Oshiomhole observed.
senator Diket Plang questioned whether the NDE has the statutory authority or capacity to license employment agencies, as that function is traditionally reserved for the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
“We need to revisit the law that established the NDE. Its primary function is skill acquisition and job creation licensing employment agencies may go beyond its current mandate,” Oshiomhole noted.
Despite these concerns, the Senate agreed to move the bill to committee level for further scrutiny and harmonization, particularly with existing legislation.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committees on Employment, Labour and Productivity, which are expected to report back within four weeks.
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