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The short answer
Under the Labour Act a child under 12 may only do light family work, under-15s may not work in industrial undertakings, and under-16s cannot sign a contract of employment except an apprenticeship and may not work more than four consecutive hours or eight hours a day. Teenagers can still earn legally through small self-run activities with a parent's oversight, paid into an account a parent opens for them.
Nigerian law does not stop a teenager earning money, but it limits what work they can do, for whom and for how long. The rules come mainly from the Labour Act and the Child Rights Act 2003. This guide sets out what each age band allows, how money can be received when a teenager cannot open most accounts alone, and which activities are both legal and safe. It is general information, not legal advice.
What the Labour Act allows by age
The Labour Act defines a child as a young person under 12 and a young person as anyone under 18 (section 91). Section 59 then sets the limits:
| Age | Rule | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 | No employment, except light agricultural, horticultural or domestic work for a family member, approved by the Minister | 59(1) |
| Under 14 | Only on a daily wage, day to day, returning home each night (domestic service excepted) | 59(3) |
| Under 15 | Not in any industrial undertaking, except supervised work in technical schools | 59(2) |
| Under 16 | No underground work, machine work or work on a public holiday; maximum 4 consecutive hours and 8 hours a day | 59(5), 59(8) |
| Under 16 | Employer must stop if a parent or guardian objects | 59(7) |
| Under 16 | Cannot enter a contract of employment, except apprenticeship | 9(3) |
| Under 18 | No work injurious to health, dangerous or immoral; night work restricted | 59(6), 60 |
WageIndicator's summary of Nigerian law puts the minimum age for hazardous work at 18 and describes night for under-16s as 10pm to 6am, and for 16 to 18-year-olds as 10pm to 7am.
What the Child Rights Act adds
The Child Rights Act 2003 protects anyone under 18 from exploitative labour. WageIndicator's summary cites sections 28 to 30 as barring the use of children for begging, hawking on main streets and highways, forced or exploitative labour and domestic or sexual exploitation, and reports a penalty of up to ten years' imprisonment for violations.
Receiving money: parent-run accounts
A teenager's earnings need somewhere safe to land. Some banks offer accounts opened by a parent for a child. GTBank's Smart Kids Save page, for example, describes a teen version for ages 13 to under 18 with a card issued at the parent's request, a ₦1,000 minimum opening balance, and documents including the child's birth certificate, the child's and guardian's NIN, and the signatory's BVN or NIN. The account converts to a regular savings or current account after 18.
Online work platforms are harder. Upwork's identity checks, for instance, require a government photo ID and say names must match across your ID, withdrawal method and tax information, so a teenager cannot simply use a parent's account. Check each platform's minimum age in its terms before signing up.
Legal and safe ways to earn
- Tutoring younger pupils in subjects the teenager is strong in, at home with a parent's agreement.
- Selling own-made items such as snacks, crafts or art to neighbours and at school events, not hawking on roads.
- Digital help for family businesses: product photos, social media posts, simple spreadsheets.
- Light help for neighbours such as errands or minding a shop for short daytime periods, within the hour limits.
- Competitions and scholarships that pay prizes for essays, coding or art.
Online money: what to avoid
Teenagers are a common target for online schemes that promise easy money. Be wary of anything that asks a young person to pay a joining fee, share a parent's bank login or card details, receive money into their account and send it on to someone else, or recruit friends in exchange for rewards. The US Federal Trade Commission's job-scams guidance warns that a legitimate employer will never ask you to deposit a cheque, keep part and send the rest on, and that honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job. If an offer involves passing other people's money through a teenager's account, stop.
What parents should check
- The work is light, safe and in daytime, with breaks.
- It does not clash with school hours or exams.
- The teenager is not working for an employer on a contract if under 16, unless it is a proper apprenticeship.
- Money goes into an account in the teenager's name that a parent can see.
- No online platform is used with false age or a borrowed identity.
For older teens, our guide to freelancing as a Nigerian student covers student freelancing, and free places to learn a paying skill lists training routes.
Where Pryme fits
A parent can use a Pryme Personal Account to keep a teenager's earnings separate in a Naira Savings Box, set towards a goal such as school fees or a laptop, with the rate shown in the app. See Savings Boxes.
Questions people ask
At what age can you work in Nigeria?
The Labour Act bars employment under 12 except light family work, bars under-15s from industrial undertakings, and says under-16s cannot sign a contract of employment except an apprenticeship.
How many hours can a 15-year-old work in Nigeria?
Under section 59(8) of the Labour Act, no more than four consecutive hours and no more than eight hours a day.
Can a teenager open a bank account in Nigeria?
Usually through a parent. GTBank's Smart Kids Save, for example, has a teen version for ages 13 to under 18 opened with a parent as signatory.
Is hawking by children illegal in Nigeria?
WageIndicator's summary of the Child Rights Act 2003 says it bars using children for hawking on main streets and highways, with a penalty of up to ten years' imprisonment.
Sources
- Labour Act, Cap L1 LFN 2004 (PLAC Laws of Nigeria) · accessed Oct 2026
- WageIndicator Nigeria: Minors and youth · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: Smart Kids Save account · accessed Oct 2026
- Upwork Help: How to verify your identity as a freelancer · accessed Oct 2026
- US Federal Trade Commission: Job scams · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.