Nigerian National Minimum Wage and Labour Rights; An Evaluation of Policy Implementation and its Impact on Workers.

This study carefully investigated the impacts of labour rights: fair remunerations, safe working conditions, non-discrimination, and freedom of association on the implementation of the new national minimum wage policy among employees in Nigeria. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, quantitative data were gathered through a structured questionnaire (INNNMWILRQ) administered to 412 employees from both public and private sectors across Oyo State, Nigeria employing simple random sampling, while qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews with four key labour unions stakeholders. The instrument’s reliability was confirmed using the Cronbach method (α = 0.810). Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, regression, and thematic analysis. Findings indicated that fair remunerations, non-discrimination, and freedom of association significantly impact the implementation of minimum wage policy, however, safe working conditions did not show a significant effect. The study concluded that labour rights are essential mechanisms for improving wage policy outcomes. It recommends that government and relevant agencies incorporate all labour rights indices in wage determinations, guarantee regular wage reviews that aligned with inflation trends, monitor compliance, and promote transparency in the wage-determination process. These measures are vital for improving employee motivation, fostering industrial harmony, and supporting national economic development.