NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2011 (REVISED EDITION)

An Act raises the national minimum wage and expands its coverage. It targets employers with 25 or more employees and workers in the formal sector to update earnings based on living costs.

What Is This Policy?

The 2011 amendment to Nigeria's National Minimum Wage Act that raised the minimum wage from N7,500 to N18,000 per month and expanded the scope of qualifying employers, following a tripartite negotiation process.

Who Does It Target?

All qualifying employers with 25 or more employees Workers in the formal sector State governments as employers Trade unions and employers' federations

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Update the minimum wage to reflect inflation and rising living costs since the previous wage floor was set, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms for non-compliant employers.

Key Features

Wage Level: Set the national minimum wage at N18,000 per month, up from N7,500 — a 140% increase. State Application: The N18,000 minimum applied to state governments and private employers with 25 or more employees. Tripartite Basis: The increase followed tripartite negotiations involving the Federal Government, NLC/TUC, and employers. Enforcement: Strengthened enforcement provisions with employers who pay below the minimum wage liable to prosecution.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active (wage level superseded — current minimum wage is N30,000 under the 2019 Act) Coverage: Nationwide, all qualifying employers Beneficiaries: Low-wage workers; consumer economy Funding: Employer compliance

How to Access

The 2019 National Minimum Wage Act now sets the current floor of N30,000 Employers must comply with the higher 2019 wage level Workers paid below N30,000 should report to the Ministry of Labour Application method: Report minimum wage violations to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Important Terms

The 2019 Act supersedes the 2011 Act's wage level but the 2011 Act remains relevant for historical compliance assessments Failure to pay the minimum wage is a criminal offence regardless of whether it is the 2011 or 2019 rate All states must pay at least the federal minimum wage to their employees

Official Resources

Website: https://www.labour.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment

Legal Framework

The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2011 operated under the National Minimum Wage Act, the Labour Act, and the Trade Unions Act. It has been superseded by the National Minimum Wage Act 2019. Constitutional authority derived from Section 17(3)(b) of the 1999 Constitution and ILO Convention 131 on Minimum Wage Fixing. The National Labour Advisory Council provided the tripartite consultation framework for setting the minimum wage.