Manny Ita
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have officially signed their first-ever formal bilateral labour recruitment agreement. The deal, finalized on the sidelines of the Global Labour Market Conference in Riyadh by Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, and Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, establishes a legal framework to govern the recruitment and placement of Nigerian workers. This agreement marks a departure from previous informal arrangements, aiming to eliminate the exploitation of Nigerian citizens by unlicensed middlemen and human traffickers.
Under the new regulatory corridor, all recruitment activities will be restricted exclusively to government-authorized agencies, ensuring that the terms of employment are transparent and legally binding. A central component of the deal is the integration of Nigerian workers into the Saudi “Musaned” platform and the Wage Protection System, which mandates that salaries be paid through digital bank transfers to prevent the illegal withholding of wages. The pact also grants Nigerian workers the right to transfer their sponsorship to new employers if contract violations occur, a major reform to the traditional sponsorship system.
Beyond worker protection, the agreement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 infrastructure expansion while providing Nigeria with a structured pathway for foreign exchange remittances. Dr. Dingyadi noted that the framework is a “foundational” step toward ensuring the dignity of Nigerians working abroad, while Saudi officials highlighted Nigeria’s status as a “Priority Labour Partner.” The Ministry of Labour is expected to release a comprehensive list of licensed recruitment agencies shortly to guide prospective workers away from “black market” agents.
