What are the Sick Leave regulations in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, sick leave is an important employment benefit that ensures employees can take time off work to recover from illness without losing their income.

Eligibility for Sick Leave

Duration: Employees in Nigeria are entitled to 12 days of paid sick leave each year.
Employment Tenure: To qualify for sick leave, an employee must have completed at least 6 months of continuous employment with their current employer.

Compensation During Sick Leave

Paid Leave: Employers are required to provide full compensation to employees during their sick leave. This means that employees are entitled to receive their regular salary for the days they are on sick leave, up to the 12-day annual limit.

Medical Certification Requirements

Absences of More Than 2 Consecutive Days: If an employee is absent due to illness for more than 2 consecutive days, they must present a medical certificate. This certificate should confirm the employee's illness or medical condition and may be requested by the employer to validate the need for extended leave.

Additional Considerations

Unused Sick Leave: Sick leave that is not used within the calendar year is typically not carried over to the next year, as sick leave policies are usually based on annual entitlement.
Extended Illness: In cases where an employee’s illness extends beyond the 12 days of paid sick leave, the employer’s policies or employment contract may dictate whether additional paid or unpaid leave is available.