Theological Reflections on the Nigerian Labour Market and the Ethics of Work

This study presents theological reflections on the concept of work and examines how Christian ethical frameworks speak to the realities of the Nigerian labour market. Nigeria faces high unemployment, pervasive informal work arrangements, and significant workforce exploitation, all of which demand a robust theological response. Using a qualitative document analysis and interview-based design, the study draws on biblical theology of work, Reformed and Catholic social teaching, and African communal ethics. Data are gathered through twenty interviews with Christian economists, theological educators, and labour union representatives drawn from Lagos, Abuja, and Kano. The study examines how concepts such as the dignity of work, the just wage, sabbath rest, and vocation apply to the Nigerian employment context. Findings indicate that a theology of work is poorly developed within the Nigerian church, with most preaching on economic matters defaulting to either prosperity gospel frameworks or passive endurance of hardship. Workers in precarious informal employment receive little theological or pastoral support from their churches. The study recommends the development of a theology of work curriculum for Nigerian seminaries and the integration of labour ethics into church social action programmes. These findings contribute to the emerging field of public theology in Nigeria and the broader African theological engagement with economic justice. Keywords: theology of work, labour ethics, Nigerian economy, public theology, economic justice