The World Bank has raised an alarm over Nigeria’s economic trajectory, pointing out that the country’s growth is being stunted by a significant failure to enforce gender equality laws. According to the latest “Women, Business and the Law 2026” report, the disparity between the laws written in the books and the actual reality for women in the workforce is creating a massive productivity gap that the nation can ill afford.
While Nigeria holds a moderate score of 50 out of 100 regarding the quality of its gender equality legislation, the framework to actually implement these laws is severely lacking. Reports found that the country scored a dismal 21.7 out of 100 when it comes to the systems required to make these rights a reality, such as institutional funding and support services. This indicates that even where protections exist on paper, there is little to no machinery in place to back them up.
One of the most striking revelations in the report is Nigeria’s zero score in the category of parenthood policies. The World Bank highlighted a complete absence of federally mandated paid maternity leave that meets the international standard of 14 weeks. Furthermore, the lack of paid paternity leave and the absence of clear legal protections against the dismissal of pregnant workers continue to force many women out of the professional space.
Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group’s Chief Economist, noted that this is a global challenge, but it is particularly acute in developing economies like Nigeria. He explained that while many countries are doing “reasonably well” on paper, the average score for enforcement and implementation drops significantly. In Nigeria’s case, the lack of structured childcare systems and equal pay provisions means the country is failing to harness its full demographic potential.
The report shared also emphasized that there are virtually no explicit provisions across Nigerian states to ensure access to affordable, quality childcare. This is compounded by a lack of tax incentives or government-administered financial support intended to help families balance their professional lives with caregiving responsibilities. Without these critical safety nets, female labor retention remains low, which directly impacts the national treasury.
Ultimately, the World Bank warns that until Nigeria closes these “opportunity gaps” by investing in enforcement and parenthood support, the economy will continue to operate below its true capacity. For a nation looking to compete on the global stage, the message is clear: legal equality must move beyond the boardroom and into the daily lives of its citizens to trigger real economic expansion.
