By Michael Oche
The Federal Government, Abia State Government and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding social protection coverage to workers in the informal economy through strengthened social dialogue, inclusive policies and strategic institutional collaboration.
According to a statement on Tuesday by Annah Daniel, Head Press and Public Relations at the ministry of labour and employment, the commitment was underscored at a Social Dialogue Engagement on Extending Social Protection to Workers in the Informal Economy held in Abia State.
Speaking at the engagement, Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti reiterated his administration’s commitment to promoting policies that protect workers, improve livelihoods, and expand access to social security, particularly among vulnerable groups operating within the informal economy.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner of Poverty Alleviation, Ngozi Blessing Felix, noted that workers in the informal sector constitute a significant component of the state’s economic activities and must not be excluded from the benefits of social protection simply because their employment arrangements fall outside the conventional formal employment structure.
Otti stressed that access to healthcare, pension, maternity protection, occupational safety, and other essential social security benefits should be considered fundamental components of decent work and inclusive economic development.
According to him, the “Abia State Government recognises the importance of social dialogue as an effective instrument for developing policies that respond to the needs of workers, employers and other stakeholders, while assuring the state’s readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government and the ILO towards establishing practical and sustainable social protection mechanisms.
Earlier in his remarks the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Maigari Dingyadi, represented by the Director Social Security and Cooperative Development, Franca Adiekweh emphasised that extending social protection to workers in the informal economy remains a critical priority of the Federal Government’s labour and employment policy agenda.
The Minister stated that social protection must not be restricted to workers in the formal sector, noting that millions of Nigerians engaged in informal employment contribute significantly to national productivity, economic growth and wealth creation but remain exposed to economic shocks, occupational risks, inadequate healthcare and limited retirement security.
Dingyadi further stated that the Federal Government, in partnership with the International Labour Organization and state governments, is committed to promoting inclusive social protection systems that will address these gaps through policy reforms, stakeholder engagement and effective implementation strategies.
The Minister further observed that social dialogue provides an important platform for building consensus, strengthening trust, and ensuring that policies are developed through the active participation of workers, employers, and government.
He called on all stakeholders to move beyond discussions and develop actionable recommendations that would guarantee wider access to social protection, particularly for women, young people, artisans, traders, agricultural workers, domestic workers, transport operators and other categories of informal economy workers.
The Minister also acknowledged the technical expertise and continued support of the International Labour Organization in advancing decent work, social security, and inclusive labour governance in Nigeria.
