Husband or wife? Who is the breadwinner in Nigerian families?

Nigeria is home to most people living in extreme poverty in the world. Extreme poverty affects close to 50% of the populace.

It's little wonder money plays an important role in relationships and marriages in Nigeria.

How much do Nigerians earn?

The Central Bank of Nigeria reported that over half of the country's population earns less than ₦700 per day, which prevents them from having enough money to save, invest, or take loans.

With what little money they have, they pay for their children's schooling, rent, food, clothing, and cooking fuel, as well as occasionally attending family and community gatherings (e.g., births, weddings, and funerals).

According to Statista, the average Nigerian spends about ₦43,000 per month, though the minimum wage is ₦30,000.

What gender has more jobs?

Men hold a greater proportion of formal and informal jobs. Male employment in Nigeria was forecast to reach 33.4 million in 2022, while female employment was predicted to reach 27.1 million, according to Statista.

Gender pay gap exists in Nigeria [istockphoto] Pulse Nigeria

In Nigeria, the gender pay gap still exists, with men earning more than women. Nigeria is ranked 123rd out of 146 nations according to the most recent World Gender Gap Report 2022, with a score of 0.639. The wealth disparity in Nigeria is 65% based on gender.

The ranking of gender gap parity considers factors such as economic opportunity and participation, educational achievement, health and survival, political appointment, and financial exclusion/wealth accumulation of the female gender globally.

One of the reasons why some women might not participate in economic activities is the advice of their husbands who would prefer them to stay at home. In places like the North, lack of access to education would certainly curb their earning capacities.

However, Nigerian women are known to be very entrepreneurial - from selling roadside snacks to owning salons, fixing nails, and being fashion designers, they know how to hustle.

Who is the breadwinner?

Generally, men are the ones responsible for the upkeep of the family due to the patriarchal nature of society. Although most women might not out-earn their husbands, the responsibility for taking care of the home and children, where the man refuses to do so even when he earns more, might fall on them and thus make them the breadwinner. In other cases, the woman might earn more money from her petty trading or even her job and take up caring for the family.