Frequently Asked Questions - Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment

It is a licence issued by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to Private Employment Agencies (PEAs) after being satisfied that the PEA has complied with the relevant provisions of the laws that guarantee decent work for recruited staff.

A company who employs workers with a view to making them available to a third party.

To be legally authorized to operate as a Recruiter by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

There are two categories of Recruiters’ Licence viz:

Licence for domestic placements: That is, recruitment for employment within Nigeria.
Licence for international placements: That is, recruitment for employment outside Nigeria.

The application form can be filled and submitted after uploading required documents at the National Electronic Labour Exchange (NELEX) web portal at www.nelex.gov.ng.

The cost of the application form is a five thousand naira (N5,000) non-refundable fee paid into the Single Treasury Account (TSA) of the Federal Government.

The total cost of a licence for domestic placement is **two hundred and five thousand naira (N205,000)** comprising a non-refundable application fee of N5,000 and a licence fee of N200,000. The total cost of a licence for international placement is **three hundred and five thousand naira (N305,000)** comprising a non-refundable application fee of N5,000 and a licence fee of N300,000.

You can make payments via the NELEX portal using your ATM card, or by generating a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) number on the [Remita Platform](https://remita.net) and using that RRR to complete the payment at any commercial bank. This RRR is then entered on the NELEX portal to instantly confirm the payment.

Prior to the expiration of an existing licence, a PEA is expected to commence the process of renewal by completing the application form and submitting it with all the required documents.

The complete list of requirements can be downloaded online at www.nelex.gov.ng.

Two weeks from the date of submission of the application, provided that all required documents were attached at the point of submission and that none of the provisions of the PEA’s Employee Handbook violate any provisions of extant labour laws.

Two years for a fresh application and one year for a renewed licence. However, where the Minister is satisfied that a PEA is of exemplary conduct and has discharged all its obligations to the Ministry, such a PEA may upon submission of application for renewal, be issued a licence with three years validity.

Such a company is not qualified for the licence. However, the company can approach the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to amend its Memorandum of Association to include the recruitment of labour, after which it could be considered for licensing if other conditions are met.

To submit itself to routine labour inspection, submit quarterly reports of its operations, attend the annual workshop for PEAs, and publish vacancy advertisements on the NELEX website.

To cater for the payment of wages of recruited workers in case of default, as well as the payment of any fine which may be imposed upon the employer and any other expenses which may be incurred by the Federal Government in respect of the workers or their families.

A security bond can be obtained from any licenced insurance company in Nigeria.

To confirm the genuineness of all information and documents submitted in support of the application.

To ensure that recruited workers are properly compensated for occupational accidents or diseases arising out of, and in the course of their employment.

To ensure that workers employed by private employment agencies have standardized terms and conditions of employment that promote decent work environments.

No. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment ensures that workers recruited by private employment agencies are never denied their right to freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively.

It is mandatory for PEAs to attend to build capacity on the core tenets of decent work, labor standards, and modern operational trends in outsourcing.

Yes. All complaints from aggrieved PEAs or their workers should be channeled to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, for the direct attention of the Director, Employment and Wages Department for quick resolution.

Yes. Penalties for violation range from formal reprimands, immediate suspension of the operating licence, or full withdrawal of the licence, to criminal prosecution depending on the gravity of the offense.

Yes. While registration with the Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) ascertains technical competence in rendering security physical operations, the regulation of the employment terms and conditions of recruited workers—including private security personnel—remains the exclusive responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, enforced via the recruiters' licence.

The onboarding checks initiate from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment State Office location where your agency's Corporate Headquarters is officially registered.

National Office Directory across Geopolitical Zones Matrix:

SOUTH-WEST ZONE

Lagos: 14, Ikoyi Road, Ikoyi (Near Passport Office), Lagos.

Ogun: Federal Secretariat Complex, Abeokuta.

Oyo: Federal Secretariat Complex, Ibadan.

Osun: KM 5, Gbongan/Ibadan Road, Safety Area, Osogbo.

Ondo: Federal Secretariat Complex, Igbatoro Road, Akure.

Ekiti: 73, Ajilosun Street, Near Penrose Filling Station, Ado-Ekiti.

SOUTH-EAST ZONE

Enugu: Federal Secretariat Complex, Independence Layout, Enugu.

Abia: 38, Ubakala Street, Umuahia.

Ebonyi: 7 Pontius Ibeogu Street, Off 122A Road, Abakaliki.

Imo: Federal Secretariat Complex, Owerri.

Anambra: 16, Dilibe Street, Amudo Village, Awka.

SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE

Rivers: Federal Secretariat Complex, Aba Road, Port-Harcourt.

Bayelsa: N.U.T Secretariat, Erapa Road, Yenagoa.

Cross River: 25, Barrack's Road, Calabar.

Akwa Ibom: 4, Etim Ibanga Udosen Street, Off Barracks Road, Uyo.

Edo: Federal Secretariat Complex, Aduwawa, Benin City.

Delta: Federal Secretariat Complex, Okpanam Road, Asaba.

NORTH-CENTRAL ZONE & FCT

FCT Abuja: 4th Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex, Central Business District, Abuja.

Benue: Federal Secretariat Complex, Makurdi.

Kwara: 1, Railway Road, Ilorin.

Plateau: Federal Secretariat Complex, Tudunwada, Jos.

Kogi: No. 1, Labour Office Road, Adankolo, Lokoja.

Niger: Federal Secretariat Complex, Minna.

Nasarawa: 14B Shadall Street, Opposite Shadall Chalet, Lafia.

NORTH-EAST ZONE

Bauchi: Federal Secretariat Complex, Bauchi.

Borno: Federal Secretariat Complex, Kano/Jos Road, Maiduguri.

Gombe: Federal Low Cost Estate, Gombe.

Adamawa: Federal Secretariat Complex, Yola.

Taraba: Jakada Street, Behind LCCN Church, Magwou, Jalingo.

Yobe: Federal Secretariat Complex, Damaturu.

NORTH-WEST ZONE

Kano: Federal Secretariat Complex, Katsina Road, Kano.

Katsina: Justice Bello Wa Street, G.R.A Roundabout, Katsina.

Kebbi: Argungu Road, Birnin Kebbi.

Sokoto: Federal Secretariat Complex, Sokoto.

Zamfara: Federal Secretariat Complex, Gusau.

Kaduna: Federal Secretariat Complex, Independence Way, Kaduna.