Civil society leaders and media advocates have urged urgent national action to end the systemic abuse of domestic workers in Nigeria, warning that without unionisation, effective law enforcement, and sustained media scrutiny, millions remain trapped in exploitation.
The call came at a media stakeholders’ engagement on domestic workers’ rights, where Betty Abah, CEO of CEE-HOPE, and media advocate Chizoba Ogbeche highlighted widespread neglect, abuse, and institutional failure.
Abah described domestic workers as among the most violated groups in Nigeria, emphasizing that unionisation and public awareness are critical to restoring their dignity. “Domestic workers are treated as expendable,” she said. “They absorb household frustrations, and when things go wrong, they are blamed, abused, or discarded.”
“Domestic workers are treated as expendable,” she said. “They absorb the frustrations and misfortunes of households, and when things go wrong, they are blamed, abused, or discarded.”
She explained that the engagement followed months of consultations with community leaders, labour unions, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders, which identified the media as a critical force for change.
“The media plays a very strategic role in amplifying unheard voices and shaping public attitudes,” Abah said, acknowledging the support of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and the contributions of media advocate Chizoba Ogbeche.
Abah apologised for the delayed engagement, attributing it to CEE-HOPE’s involvement in responding to an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Makoko, Lagos.
She described Makoko as a global cultural icon and the world’s largest floating slum, now facing demolitions without adequate notice, relocation, or compensation.
According to her, demolitions that began on December 24 reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 10 people, mostly infants, following forced evictions and the use of tear gas. She said CEE-HOPE has been providing emergency relief to displaced families amid worsening conditions.
Turning back to domestic workers, Abah revealed that a women’s shelter run by CEE-HOPE in Lagos has received numerous teenage domestic workers who were victims of sexual abuse, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“Contrary to what we expected, most of the cases were not married women but teenage house helps abused by men in their employers’ homes,” she said.
She recounted the killing of Joy Eji, a 15-year-old domestic worker from Benue State, who was allegedly starved, beaten, and later framed for suicide by her employers during the lockdown. An autopsy confirmed homicide, and the suspects are currently in custody.
“That death was preventable,” Abah said. “And you can be sure that many similar cases never come to light.”
Abah argued that abuse persists largely because domestic workers lack awareness of their rights and have no unions to protect them. She referenced International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189, which guarantees domestic workers fair wages, regulated working hours, and the right to unionise.
“In Nigeria, children as young as seven or eight work round the clock for as little as ₦15,000,” she said. “Some employers live in luxury and still claim they are ‘feeding’ the worker as justification.”
“If you cannot afford to pay a domestic worker properly, then do your own housework,” she added.
Supporting the call, Chizoba Ogbeche warned that women must confront their own roles in sustaining abuse within homes if meaningful change is to occur.
“Women must be at the centre of this conversation because we are not only victims; we are also perpetrators,” Ogbeche said. “Ignorance of the law is not an excuse for cruelty.”
She condemned the widespread use of underage girls as domestic workers, noting that many are withdrawn from school and burdened with adult responsibilities, while employers’ biological children enjoy comfort and education.
“We are raising children who will become parents and repeat the same ideology of abuse,” she warned.
Ogbeche identified weak enforcement and poor follow-up of cases as major barriers to justice, noting that many cases collapse due to financial inducements and lack of sustained media attention.
While acknowledging that men are often responsible for sexual abuse, she said women frequently enable such acts through silence or complicity, citing the Ochanya case as a stark example.
She also criticised the practice of hiring domestic workers through agencies that collect wages on their behalf, describing it as exploitative and, in some cases, a form of child trafficking.
“A domestic worker is not a slave,” Ogbeche said. “They are human beings who deserve fair wages and humane treatment.”
She disclosed that the Nigeria Association of Women in the Media (NAHUACH) has adopted the campaign across the six northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, committing to advocacy, case monitoring, and inter-state collaboration. She also called on religious leaders to address domestic workers’ rights from their pulpits and minbars.
Both speakers welcomed the passage of a domestic workers’ bill by the Senate and urged the House of Representatives and the President to complete the legislative process, while warning that enforcement remains critical.
“Beyond laws and prosecutions, we must rediscover our humanity,” Ogbeche said. “Every child deserves protection, dignity, and care.”
Abah concluded with a call to the media to sustain coverage of domestic workers’ issues, saying consistent reporting could drive accountability and lasting reform.
“What matters most is not just wages,” she said, “but the humanity that is taken away and the future that is destroyed when children are denied education and dignity.”
They thanked NAWOJ and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, West Africa, expressing optimism that stronger media collaboration would help secure justice, dignity, and a better future for domestic workers in Nigeria.