Protective Legal Framework for the Protection of Migrant Workers from Labour Exploitation in Nigeria

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dc.contributor.authorOluropo Elijah AWOYELE
dc.date.accessioned2026-09-17T12:56:17Z
dc.date.available2026-09-17T12:56:17Z
dc.date.issued2025-12
dc.description.abstractMigration for work-related reasons has long been a widespread trend that continues to influence economic, social, and demographic changes across various regions. In West Africa, Nigeria, as the most populous country and an important financial centre, acts as a major destination for migrant workers, especially from neighbouring countries within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). These migrant workers are vital to Nigeria’s economic development by addressing labour shortages across sectors such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, and informal employment. Despite their contributions, however, migrant workers remain among the most vulnerable groups in Nigeria’s labour market. Many faces systemic issues such as exploitation, wage disparities, unsafe working conditions, discrimination, and limited access to social protections. Nigeria is bound by several international and regional agreements, including key International Labour Organisation conventions, the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to ensure fair treatment of migrant workers. Nonetheless, the practical enforcement of these commitments has often been inconsistent and ineffective. The study critically assesses Nigeria’s legal and institutional frameworks in safeguarding migrant workers from labour exploitation. It uses a doctrinal approach, systematically collecting and analysing legal sources. Primary materials include the Nigerian Constitution, labour laws, subsidiary regulations, judicial decisions, and ratified treaties, complemented by secondary sources such as academic articles, policy reports, and institutional publications. Through content analysis, comparative legal review, and normative assessment, the research evaluates how well Nigeria’s domestic laws align with international labour standards and examines the effectiveness of current enforcement mechanisms. The results highlight significant regulatory gaps, weak institutional coordination, and inadequate implementation structures. The study concludes with recommendations for targeted legal reforms, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and improved institutional cooperation to develop a more coherent, effective, and rights-based framework for migrant workers in Nigeria. Keywords: Labour Rights, Human Trafficking, Exploitation, Migrant Workers, Forced Labour, Refugees Word Count: 300
dc.identifier.citationKate Turabian
dc.identifier.otherLL.M.
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.lcu.edu.ng/handle/123456789/1511
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherLead City University, Ibadan
dc.relation.ispartofseriesLL.M.
dc.subjectLabour Rights
dc.subjectHuman Trafficking
dc.subjectExploitation
dc.subjectMigrant Workers
dc.subjectForced Labour
dc.subjectRefugees
dc.titleProtective Legal Framework for the Protection of Migrant Workers from Labour Exploitation in Nigeria
dc.typeThesis

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