Hundreds of informal sector workers, including market women, mechanics, artisans and traders, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly Complex, demanding urgent government intervention on pensions, healthcare and social protection.
The protesters, under the aegis of the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organizations of Nigeria, said the Federal Government must prioritise the welfare of millions of Nigerians operating outside the formal employment structure.
Addressing journalists during the protest, FIWON General Secretary, Gbenga Komolafe, lamented that despite contributing significantly to the nation’s economy, informal workers remained largely excluded from key social protection schemes.
He noted that the sector accounts for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce and contributes about 65 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, yet lacks access to pensions, health insurance and workplace protection.
Komolafe called for the introduction of state-backed pension schemes tailored to informal workers, proposing a contributory system supported by government grants to cushion the effects of inflation.
He said, “If a trader contributes N1,000, the government should match it with N1,000. That is the only way such a scheme can remain viable under current economic realities.”
The FIWON scribe also criticised the micro-pension scheme supervised by the National Pension Commission, describing it as ineffective due to rising inflation which erodes contributors’ savings.
On healthcare, he expressed concern over the low level of insurance coverage in the country, noting that less than 10 per cent of Nigerians—mostly in the formal sector—are enrolled in health insurance schemes.
He urged both federal and state governments to subsidise premiums for informal workers to encourage wider participation.
“If the annual premium is N20,000, government should pay at least half. That will make it accessible to low-income earners,” he added.
Komolafe further advocated free healthcare services for vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under five, the elderly and persons with disabilities, stressing that such interventions would help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
The group also demanded the establishment of a social pension scheme for citizens aged 65 and above, recommending payments not lower than the national minimum wage to guarantee basic living standards.
On workplace safety, the protesters decried the absence of compensation for injuries sustained by informal workers, noting that existing laws such as the Employees’ Compensation Act are rarely extended to cover them.
They called for the inclusion of informal workers in workplace insurance schemes and increased investment in occupational safety training.
According to FIWON, strengthening social protection for informal workers would help reduce poverty, curb insecurity and promote social stability across the country.
As part of the protest, the group submitted a formal letter detailing their demands to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, urging the National Assembly to enact policies that will guarantee social security for the informal sector.
The protesters maintained that Nigeria’s informal workforce, estimated at over 70 million people, remains the backbone of the economy and deserves urgent government attention.
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