World Bank: Weak gender law enforcement stifling Nigeria’s economic growth

The World Bank has raised concerns that weak enforcement of gender equality laws is hindering Nigeria’s economic growth and limiting women’s participation in the labour market.

In its Women, Business and the Law 2026 report released on Wednesday, the institution revealed that while Nigeria scores 50 out of 100 for the existence of gender equality legislation, it earns just 21.7 out of 100 for the systems required to implement those laws — including funding, public services and institutional support.

The report gave Nigeria a zero rating on parenthood policies, citing the absence of federally mandated paid maternity leave of at least 14 weeks, paid paternity leave, and explicit legal protections against the dismissal of pregnant workers.

According to the bank, the disconnect between legislation and enforcement is creating “huge opportunity gaps” that reduce productivity and weaken growth prospects in developing economies.

Indermit Gill, chief economist and senior vice-president for development economics at the World Bank Group, said that although many countries have made progress on paper, implementation remains a major challenge.

“On paper, most countries are doing reasonably well: the average country scores 67 out of 100 on the adequacy of laws to enable economic equality between women and men,” Gill said. “But when it comes to enforcing the laws, the average score drops to 53. And when the systems needed to implement those rights are assessed, the adequacy score is just 47. These numbers reflect huge opportunity gaps.”

Globally, the report found that only 4 percent of women live in economies that offer near-complete legal equality.

For Nigeria, the bank highlighted the absence of structured childcare systems, paid parental leave policies, and enforceable equal pay provisions as key barriers to retaining women in the workforce. It warned that without these support systems, the country risks failing to fully harness its demographic and economic potential.

The report further noted that across Nigerian states, there are virtually no clear legal provisions guaranteeing access to affordable and quality childcare. Additionally, the country lacks tax incentives or government-backed financial mechanisms aimed at helping families balance work and caregiving responsibilities.

The World Bank added that fewer than half of the world’s 190 economies provide financial support for families, underscoring the broader global challenge of closing gender gaps in economic participation.