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People & practiceLabourNigeria

Obtain a recruiter's licence (private employment agency)

License a recruitment/manpower agency with the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment — domestic or international placement: incorporate with a recruitment object clause → meet statutory-compliance and bond requirements → inspection → licence fee ₦200,000.

Procedure
4steps
Coordination
3agencies
Category
People & practiceLabour
Task links

Go to the exact next page

Application, requirements, forms, fees, and tracking are labelled separately.

Apply onlineOpen the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) application serviceCorporate Affairs Commission (CAC) · labour.gov.ng
Routing map

Who you will deal with

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)Federal Ministry of Labour & EmploymentFederal Ministry of Labour & Employment (Controller)
Procedure

The steps, in order

Each route below is scoped to the step it can actually complete.

  1. 01

    Incorporate with a recruitment object clause

    Agency
    Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
    What is required
    Incorporate a company whose MEMART carries recruitment of labour as an object clause. Two licence categories exist: domestic placement (employment within Nigeria) and international placement (employment outside Nigeria).
    Documents
    CIC; MEMART with recruitment object clause
    Typical timeline
    Weeks
    Use for this step
  2. 02

    Meet the statutory-compliance requirements

    Agency
    Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment
    What is required
    Provide evidence of PFA registration (Pension Reform Act 2014), NSITF registration (Employees' Compensation), a staff handbook/conditions of service, evidence of health insurance or medical retainership, and a management profile establishing competence.
    Documents
    PFA + NSITF registration; handbook; health cover; management profile
    Typical timeline
    Documentation
    Use for this step
  3. 03

    Provide the bank guarantee / insurance bond

    Agency
    Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment
    What is required
    Provide a bank guarantee or insurance bond scaled to the number of workers recruited. Domestic: oil & gas companies ₦3,000,000 (1-100 employees) rising to ₦5,000,000 (over 100); other businesses ₦1,500,000 (1-100) rising to ₦3,000,000 (over 100).
    Documents
    Bank guarantee or insurance bond
    Typical timeline
    Before approval
    Use for this step
  4. 04

    Approval, licence fee and issuance

    Agency
    Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment (Controller)
    What is required
    On the Controller's approval, pay a licence fee of ₦200,000 and send evidence of payment to the Controller's office in Abuja for issuance of the recruiter's licence. Inspection and renewal apply.
    Documents
    Licence fee ₦200,000; proof of payment
    Typical timeline
    On approval
    Use for this step
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