Abstract

EYONGNDI, David Tarh-Akong; OKWORI, Arome M; NNAWULEZI, Uche  and  ADEDEJI, John Oluyinka. Imperativeness of institutionalising work as a fundamental right in Nigeria: Lessons from Belarus and India. Afr. hum. rights law j. [online]. 2025, vol.25, n.1, pp.277-301. ISSN 1996-2096.  https://doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2025/v25n1a11.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 guarantees various rights, which are regarded as non-justiciable and justiciable rights, under chapters 2 and 4. Work falls under the latter and may not be enforced by court action despite Nigeria's high level of unemployment. This is notwithstanding the fact that several international human rights instruments recognise work as a human right. Through comparative analysis, this article examines the legal framework on the right to work in Nigeria, using the concept of interrelatedness, interdependence and indivisibility of human rights in advancing the imperativeness of institutionalising work as a justiciable right in Nigeria. The article found that most Nigerians live below the poverty line, and their economic conditions are exacerbated by an inability to earn an income that can meet their basic needs, thereby making the enjoyment of their justiciable rights impracticable. The article goes further to examine jurisprudential practices on the right to work in India and Belarus aimed at drawing lessons for Nigeria. It recommends that in order to address the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes imperative to make the right to work a justiciable right to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 8.

Keywords : employment; human rights imperative; India; Nigeria; right to work; Sustainable Development Goals.

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