Leave Policy in Nigeria
Manage Nigeria's leave policies and holidays with Gloroots, streamlining annual leave, holiday requests, and employee leave types efficiently
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Understanding Leave Policy in Nigeria
Key takeaways:
- Annual leave: 6 working days per year after 12 months of service (12 days for employees under 16).
- Sick leave: Up to 12 paid days per year with medical certification.
- Maternity leave: 16 weeks (public sector, full pay) or 12 weeks (private sector, 50% pay).
- Paternity leave: 14 working days for federal civil servants; varies by state and sector.
- Public holidays: 14 recognized national and religious holidays.
Grasping the leave policies and holiday regulations in Nigeria is essential for efficient workforce management. This guide outlines various forms of paid and unpaid leave, such as public holidays, annual leave, sick leave, and maternity leave. Employers looking to hire employees from Nigeria or through an Employer of Record (EOR) in Nigeria must be well-versed in these regulations to ensure compliance and effective workforce administration.
Annual Leave (Vacation)
- Employees in Nigeria are granted six working days of annual leave each year.
- Younger employees under the age of 16, including apprentices, receive 12 working days.
- Eligibility: Employees must have completed at least 12 months with their employer.
- Deferral: Annual leave should be used within the year it is earned. Both parties may agree to defer it.
- Deferred leave must be taken within 24 months from the time it was earned.
- Payment in lieu: Nigerian law prohibits employers from substituting annual leave with payment of the basic wage, except when the employee's contract is terminated.
- Salary during leave: Employees receive their basic salary, excluding additional allowances or overtime payments.
Public Holidays
Sick Days
- Nigerian employees are entitled to 12 days of paid sick leave with certification from a registered medical practitioner.
- Employees receive their basic salary during sick leave, excluding overtime and allowances.
- Employers can request a medical examination by a practitioner of their choice.
Health benefits for insured employees include:
- Specialist consultations
- Up to 15 days of hospitalization
- Preventative care
- Maternity care (up to four live births)
- Eye care services
- Dental care and pain relief
- Medication
- Employment is secure during sick leave, with the contract remaining intact.
- Employees must fulfill contractual obligations during sick leave, except for tasks they cannot perform due to illness.
Ready to run compliant employment in Nigeria? Book a demo with our team to see how Gloroots manages leave, payroll, and compliance across 140+ countries.
Maternity Leave
- Female employees in the public sector receive 16 weeks of maternity leave at full pay.
- Private-sector female employees are entitled to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave at 50% of their average salary.
- This benefit is available after six months of consecutive service with the company.
- Nursing breaks: On return to work, mothers are entitled to two half-hour nursing breaks each working day for up to six months.
- Job protection: Employers cannot dismiss an employee during maternity leave. The role and employment status remain protected throughout the leave period.
Paternity Leave
Paternity leave entitlements in Nigeria vary by sector and state:
- Federal civil servants: 14 working days of paid paternity leave.
- Lagos State public servants: 2 weeks of paid paternity leave.
- Private sector: No statutory federal mandate. Entitlement depends on employer policy or state-level regulations.
- Eligibility: Typically applies to confirmed employees following the birth of a child, with specific conditions set by each employer or state.
Leave Policy Management in Nigeria with Gloroots
At Gloroots, we recognize that managing leave policies can be intricate, particularly when expanding your business and hiring globally. Our platform supports adherence to Nigeria's labor regulations, maintains precise leave balances, processes leave requests, and produces detailed leave reports. We also support payroll management across local currencies and provide the full benefits of EOR for teams scaling internationally. By partnering with Gloroots, you can focus on scaling your business while we run employee leave management. Contact us to discover how Gloroots can support your HR operations in Nigeria.
Ready to take the first step?
Request a demo now and learn how you can focus on building, without worrying for compliance, ever!
Ready to take the first step?
Request a demo now and learn how you can focus on building, without worrying for compliance, ever!
