Pathways to employment: Nigeria report

There is no formal process through which refugees in Nigeria can apply for work permits or identify the documents required for formal employment. While the 1989 Act explicitly granted refugees the right to work and freedom of movement, the 2022 Act that replaced it does not explicitly provide refugees with access to employment. The National Youth Service Corps Act also prohibits employers from hiring individuals who have not participated in the National Youth Service Scheme, in which refugees are ineligible to participate. As a result, there is no evidence of refugees engaged in formal employment, even those with higher education diplomas. In settlements, humanitarian organisations hire refugees on an incentive basis regardless of their qualifications. The recommendations focus on clarifying existing policies and creating specific guidelines for refugees’ access to formal employment.