By Victor Ahiuma-Young
The Federation of Informal Workers Organizations of Nigeria, FIWON, has called on the Federal Government to urgently expand pension and healthcare coverage to millions of informal workers across the country, describing the current level of social protection as grossly inadequate.
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In a statement by its General Secretary, Gbenga Komolafe, FIWON lamented that the vast majority of Nigerian workers in the informal economy remain excluded from essential social security programmes despite their enormous contribution to the nation’s economy.
According to the organisation, more than 93 per cent of Nigeria’s working population earn their livelihoods in the informal sector, yet most lack access to pensions, health insurance and other social protection measures that could cushion the effects of economic hardship.
FIWON expressed concern over the low enrollment in the Micro Pension Scheme, noting that only about 152,000 out of an estimated 77 million informal workers are currently covered. It described the figure as evidence of the urgent need for government intervention to ensure wider access to retirement savings and income security.
The organisation argued that informal workers, who often earn low and irregular incomes, cannot be expected to shoulder the full burden of pension contributions. It therefore renewed its demand for a government co-contribution arrangement under which the state would match workers’ pension savings on a 50:50 basis.
“Informal workers are expected to save for retirement entirely from meagre and unstable incomes, while inflation continues to erode the value of their savings,” the statement said.
FIWON also called for the introduction of subsidised health insurance premiums for informal workers through a similar cost-sharing arrangement between government and workers. It noted that healthcare coverage remains beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians, leaving many households vulnerable to financial ruin whenever illness strikes.
The group further advocated free healthcare services for vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under the age of five, elderly citizens aged 70 and above, and persons with disabilities
It maintained that access to affordable healthcare and retirement protection should be regarded as fundamental social rights rather than privileges available only to workers in the formal sector.
The organisation also urged government to extend workplace protection and compensation schemes to informal workers who suffer injuries, disabilities or death while earning a living.
FIWON stressed that meaningful democracy must translate into improved living standards and social welfare for citizens, insisting that pensions, healthcare and social protection are critical to ensuring dignity and economic security for millions of working Nigerians.
The organisation called on President Bola Tinubu and state governments to prioritise the expansion of social protection programmes as part of efforts to improve the welfare and quality of life of informal workers across the country.
