The Federation of Informal Workers Organisations of Nigeria (FIWON) has urged the Federal Government to provide matching pension contributions and subsidised health insurance for informal workers.
FIWON General Secretary, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, made the call during a rally in Abuja on Wednesday while speaking with journalists.
Participants at the rally carried banners with inscriptions such as “Contributory pension with government support” and “Effective social protection is a right,” demanding a 50:50 pension contribution arrangement.
In a letter submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, Komolafe called for the extension of social protection to millions of workers in Nigeria’s informal economy.
He noted that informal workers make up more than 93 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce and contribute about 65 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Despite these contributions, he said, the workers lack access to pensions, healthcare, and workplace protection.
Komolafe added that young informal workers were the most affected, as they face poverty, economic shocks, and limited access to social protection.
“This exclusion worsens maternal mortality, old-age poverty, and healthcare access, thereby undermining national development and social stability,” he said.
He called for urgent legislation to ensure inclusive social protection that would guarantee dignity, security, and improved livelihoods for all workers.
Komolafe also advocated for government-backed pension schemes, subsidised health insurance, social pensions, and improved workplace safety.
He further urged reforms in the ongoing review of the National Social Protection Policy.
“Matching government contributions will protect informal workers’ pensions from inflation, encourage savings, and ensure dignity and security in old age,” he said.
Also speaking at the rally, FIWON FCT Chairperson, Blessing Yusuf, said social protection is a right, not a privilege.
Yusuf noted that over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce consists of domestic workers, market vendors, drivers, and cooks, who need access to health insurance, affordable housing, and pensions.
She stressed the need for the government to match workers’ contributions to ensure dignity and security, in line with international labour standards and the Nigerian Constitution.
