U.S. Raises Concerns Over Security, Justice Delivery, Minimum Wage Implementation In Nigeria

The United States Government has expressed concerns over Nigeria’s security situation and justice delivery, citing cases of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and lengthy pre-trial delays.

In its 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, released by the Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, the US noted that while Nigeria has made progress in certain areas, critical challenges persist within the judicial system and labour sector.

Concerns Over Detention And Justice Delivery

The report highlighted instances of enforced disappearances, quoting Amnesty International as saying that the whereabouts of “dozens of young men detained at SARS Awkuzu,” a former police facility in Anambra State, remain unknown since the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in 2020.

According to the document, police and security operatives often exercised powers to arrest individuals without warrants, sometimes abusing such authority. Although Nigerian law mandates that detainees be presented before a magistrate within 48 hours and granted access to lawyers and family, the report revealed that security agencies frequently failed to comply.

The report also stated that pre-trial detention orders, which by law should not exceed 14 days, were often disregarded, with suspects kept incommunicado or detained indefinitely. It further noted that bail decisions were arbitrary, while corruption and systemic inefficiencies hindered justice delivery.

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“Some detainees were held in pre-trial detention for periods equal to or longer than the maximum sentence for the alleged crime,” the report stressed. It identified a shortage of judges, case backlogs, lost files, and lack of transport for prisoners as major factors worsening delays.

Minimum Wage Undermined By Naira Depreciation

On economic matters, the US report assessed Nigeria’s new national minimum wage of N70,000, passed under the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. It noted that despite the increment, the value of the wage had been eroded by the steep depreciation of the naira.

With the exchange rate trading at over N1,500 to the dollar, the wage, pegged at around $47.90 per month, was described as insufficient to meet poverty-level income standards. The report also noted that the law excluded firms with fewer than 25 employees, meaning that a significant proportion of Nigeria’s workforce, especially in the informal sector, did not benefit.

The Department of State further observed that several state governments had declined to implement the new wage due to financial constraints. It added that enforcement mechanisms were weak, while penalties for non-compliance were minimal compared to other labour-related offences.

The report stated: “Between 70 and 80 percent of Nigeria’s workforce operates in the informal economy, where wage, hour, and occupational safety laws are rarely enforced.”

Child Marriage And Rights Violations

The US report also flagged child rights violations, particularly the persistence of early marriages in some states despite federal law setting the minimum marriage age at 18. It noted that although 35 states, with the exception of Zamfara, had adopted the law, several northern states continued to permit marriages of children as young as 11 under customary and religious practices.

According to the report, the Federal Government has been engaging with religious and traditional leaders, including emirs and sultans, to raise awareness about the health and social dangers of child marriage.

Presidency Responds To US Report

Reacting to the findings, the Presidency dismissed concerns about the judicial system, insisting that reforms were already underway to address long-standing issues.

In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Mr. Sunday Dare, the Presidency maintained that Nigeria’s judicial sector is undergoing improvements. “Our judicial system continues to address concerns about lengthy pre-trial periods alongside other issues. These challenges are abating, even as the Nigerian government has initiated several judicial reforms,” he stated.

Mr. Dare recalled that President Bola Tinubu had, in April 2024, declared open a national summit on justice, part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the judiciary.

On security, the presidential aide said the Nigerian government has recorded significant progress. “The US, through its Nigerian Mission, only recently praised the Nigerian security apparatus and the Bola Tinubu administration over the arrest of two leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group. It is a validation of the efforts being made to address the security situation internally and externally,” he said.

He also stressed that better coordination among security agencies had contributed to tackling several challenges, adding that the “security clean-up is a continuous effort.”

Naira Stabilisation And Economic Recalibration

On economic issues, the Presidency insisted that the government’s reforms were yielding results, pointing to signs of naira stabilisation and improvement in key macroeconomic indicators.

“The naira has stabilised. That we can see. The economy is undergoing a recalibration, and we see positive numbers from macroeconomic indicators. The naira will strengthen with time,” Mr. Dare assured.

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