Wisdom Engraced
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The United States has expressed concerns over Nigeria’s recently approved minimum wage of N70,000 for federal workers, stating that it has lost its value due to the continued depreciation of the naira. According to the US Department of State’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2024, the new wage, equivalent to approximately $47.90 per month, has been weakened by the exchange rate of over N1,500 to $1. The report highlights gaps in the law, noting that the new wage only applies to firms with 25 or more employees, leaving many workers excluded.
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The US report also flagged persistent child rights violations, especially on early marriage, despite federal laws setting 18 as the minimum age. In some states, children as young as 11 can be legally married under customary or religious law. The government has been engaging religious leaders, emirs, and sultans to address the health risks linked to child marriage. Security and justice sector challenges were also spotlighted, with the report citing enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and poor due process.
The judiciary faces significant challenges, including lengthy pretrial detention, delays, and corruption. Some detainees are held for periods equal to or exceeding the maximum sentence for the accused crime due to shortages of trial judges, trial backlogs, and bureaucratic inertia. According to Amnesty International, the whereabouts of dozens of young men detained at SARS Awkuzu in Anambra State remain unknown since the unit’s disbandment in 2020.
The report also notes that between 70 and 80 percent of Nigeria’s working population operates in the informal economy, where wage laws, hours of work, and occupational safety regulations are hardly enforced, leaving millions of workers vulnerable to exploitation. The US has raised concerns over Nigeria’s human rights record, including the proposed $346 million arms sale to Nigeria, which has been met with calls for safeguards to ensure accountability and prevent further human rights violations.
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Jonathan Nwokpor
