NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2011
Act · Labour
Edition: 2011
An Act increases the national minimum wage and updates enforcement provisions. It applies to employers and employees to protect low-income workers from inadequate pay.
NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2011
What Is This Policy?
A 2011 amendment that increased Nigeria's national minimum wage from N7,500 to N18,000 per month, expanding coverage and updating enforcement provisions.
Who Does It Target?
All employers with 25 or more employees Employees in all sectors except government enterprises, maritime, and agriculture with fewer than 25 workers Federal Ministry of Labour and enforcement officers Trade unions
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Update the national minimum wage to reflect increases in the cost of living, protect low-income workers from below-subsistence earnings, and stimulate consumer demand.
Key Features
Wage Increase: Raised the national minimum wage from N7,500 to N18,000 per month. Coverage: Applicable to employers with 25 or more employees in the public and private sectors. Enforcement: Employers who pay below the minimum wage are liable to prosecution. State and Private Sector Application: The federal minimum wage applies to all qualifying employers including state governments.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active (wage level superseded by 2019 Act) Coverage: Nationwide qualifying employers Beneficiaries: Low-income workers Funding: Employer compliance
How to Access
Employers must pay at least the minimum wage to all qualifying employees Workers may report underpayment to the Ministry of Labour Application method: Report minimum wage violations to the Federal Ministry of Labour.
Important Terms
The 2019 Act raised the minimum wage to N30,000; that is the current rate States may set higher minimums for their own employees Failure to pay the minimum wage is a criminal offence
Official Resources
Website: https://www.labour.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment
Legal Framework
The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2011 operates 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 It has been superseded by the National Minimum Wage Act 2019.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 derives from Section 17(3)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (just and humane conditions of work). The Act aligns with ILO Convention 131 on Minimum Wage Fixing and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission Act.