In Nigeria, employees are entitled to at least 6 working days of paid annual leave after 12 months of continuous service under the Labour Act. Many employers offer more generous entitlements through employment contracts or company policies, with 20–30 days being common in the private sector.

Statutory entitlement

Minimum 6 working days of paid annual leave after 12 months of continuous service.

Eligibility

Employees must have worked continuously for at least 12 months to be entitled to paid annual leave.

Employer obligations

  • Grant at least 6 working days of paid annual leave after 12 months of service.
  • Pay the employee's wages during annual leave.
  • Not deduct pay for annual leave days taken within the statutory entitlement.

Employee rights

  • Right to at least 6 working days of annual leave after 12 months of service.
  • Right to be paid during annual leave.
  • Right to additional leave if provided by employment contract or company policy.

Common pitfalls

  • Applying only the statutory minimum — most Nigerian employers offer 20–30 days of annual leave as standard practice.
  • Not pro-rating leave for new employees — leave should be pro-rated for employees who have not completed 12 months.

Statutory vs contractual leave

The statutory minimum is 6 working days, but most employers in Nigeria offer significantly more — typically 20–30 days per year. Employees should check their employment contract for the actual entitlement.

Annual leave pay

Annual leave pay is based on the employee's normal wages during the leave period.

Frequently asked questions

How much annual leave do Nigerian employers typically offer?

While the statutory minimum is 6 days, most private sector employers offer 20–30 days of annual leave.

Sources

This page is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the cited primary source for current law before making employment decisions.