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)

• In Nigeria, employees are granted six days of annual leave each year. This entitlement increases to 12 working days for younger employees under the age of 16, including apprentices. To be eligible for annual leave, an employee must have been with their employer for at least 12 months.
• Although annual leave should ideally be used within the year it is earned, both parties can agree to defer it. However, any deferred leave must be taken within 24 months from the time it was earned.
• Nigerian law prohibits employers from substituting annual leave with payment of the basic wage, except in cases where the employee's contract is terminated.
• During their annual leave, employees are entitled to receive their basic salary, which does not include any additional allowances or overtime payments.

Public Holidays

• January 1 (Monday): New Year’s Day
• March 29 (Friday): Good Friday
• April 1 (Monday): Easter Monday
• April 9 (Tuesday): Id el Fitr
• April 10 (Wednesday): Id el Fitr holiday
• April 11 (Thursday): Id el Fitr holiday
• May 1 (Wednesday): Workers’ Day
• June 12 (Wednesday): Democracy Day
• June 17 (Monday): Id el Kabir (Tentative)
• June 18 (Tuesday): Id el Kabir additional holiday (Tentative)
• September 16 (Monday): Id el Maulud (Tentative)
• October 1 (Tuesday): National Day
• December 25 (Wednesday): Christmas Day
• December 26 (Thursday): Boxing Day

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.

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.

Paternity Leave

The male is entitled to 14 working days of paternity leave.

Hassle-Free Leave Policy Management in Nigeria   with Gloroots

At Gloroots, we recognize that navigating leave policies can be intricate, particularly when expanding your business and hiring globally. Our platform guarantees adherence to Nigeria's labor regulations, maintains precise leave balances, processes leave requests effortlessly, and produces detailed leave reports. By partnering with Gloroots, you can focus on scaling your business while we handle the complexities of employee leave management. Contact us to discover how Gloroots can streamline your HR processes and improve your operations in Nigeria .