Employee Leave – Frequently Asked Questions

What is leave?

Leave refers to time taken off work to rest, relax, attend to personal matters, etc., with the knowledge and approval of the employer. It is the total number of days that every employee or worker is entitled to take time off work, apart from statutory holidays.

What are the types of leave that employees or workers are statutorily entitled to in Nigeria?

The Nigerian Labour Act ("Act"), which is applicable to mainly unskilled workers, provides different types of leave for employees. These are annual leave, sick leave, and maternity leave. Given that they are provided by law, they are often referred to as statutory leave. This statutory leave has also been adopted for employees not covered by the Act. The Act provides as follows: