In a bid to safeguard millions of informal workers, the Senate has passed for second reading the Informal Sector Private Employment Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2025, aimed at formalising and regulating employment practices in Nigeria’s vast informal economy.
Sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, the bill seeks to authorise the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to license private job agencies and enforce labour standards across sectors such as domestic work, apprenticeship, and internships.
Leading the debate, Senator Musa highlighted the urgent need to curb “labour rights violations, exploitation, and lack of protections” that plague the informal sector—despite its critical role in the national economy.
“This bill will introduce transparency, accountability, and fairness in how informal workers are recruited and treated,” Musa said.
Key provisions include: Empowering the NDE to issue licences to private agencies, Requiring agencies to maintain a central database of informal workers, Ensuring recruitment is ethical and regulated, Deploying licensing officers nationwide for compliance and enforcement.
With minimal opposition, the bill was passed for second reading and referred to the Senate Committee on Labour and Employment, which will report back within six weeks.
