And while Nigeria ratified the ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 and the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958, protection against discrimination in Nigeria is very weak. This is however a limited provision in many ways; it seems to protect Nigerian citizens only and it merely protects a person against discrimination based on statute or arising from the application of a statute or discrimination based on executive or administrative action of the government. And due to the fact that government is becoming an insignificant employer as the private sector employs majority and there is no constitutional protection as such for employees in respect of discriminatory policies in the workplace. Section 42(2) which provides that no citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth does not afford better protection either. Discrimination in the workplace is also forbidden by section 17 of the Constitution.

Source: Nigerian Tribune October 18, 2023 03:15 UTC