By Michael Oche
The Citizen Coalition for Social Protection (CCSP) with support from Solidarity Centre, has urged the Federal Government to adopt and implement a strengthened social protection policy framework by December 2026 to address the needs of workers in informal employment and other vulnerable groups.
The coalition also called for the expansion of pension and healthcare benefits to informal workers, saying a significant proportion of Nigeria’s workforce remains excluded from adequate and sustainable social protection mechanisms.
The demands were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day meeting of the CCSP held in Abuja, where participants deliberated on strategies for strengthening social protection coverage for workers and vulnerable populations.
The meeting was attended by representatives of organisations including the Federation of Informal Workers Organizations of Nigeria (FIWON), Organization of Trade Unions of West Africa (OTUWA), ActionAid Nigeria, National Democratic Institute (NDI), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Accountability Lab and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), among others.
According to the communique signed by OTUWA Executive Secretary, Comrade John Odah and FIWON General Secretary, Comrade Gbenga Komolafe, on behalf the coalition, the group called for the reform of the Micro Pension Plan to make it more accessible, affordable and attractive to informal workers, including the introduction of government matching grants or contributions to encourage pension savings.
It also urged the government to establish social pensions and/or grants for older persons, persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable people who have no access to existing contributory pension schemes.
On healthcare, the coalition called for free or adequately subsidised health coverage for pregnant women, persons living with disabilities, children under five and older persons, while progressively expanding affordable health insurance coverage for informal workers.
The group further demanded appropriate unemployment support through increased investment in public works programmes, targeted grants and income-support schemes, vocational and technical skills training, entrepreneurship and livelihood support.
It also called for the progressive extension of occupational health and safety, workplace accident protection, survivors’ benefits and other relevant provisions under the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010 to workers in informal employment.
“Government and relevant stakeholders should provide accessible and affordable childcare facilities, including crèches within or close to informal work clusters, to enable workers, particularly women, to participate safely and productively in economic activities,” the communique noted.
According to the communiqué, the coalition’s overall goal is to ensure that by 2030, basic social protection coverage is progressively extended to workers in informal employment, including old-age support, disability protection, maternity protection, child protection, health insurance, unemployment support and decent work protections.
The CCSP identified relevant committees of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, as well as the Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning; Labour and Employment; Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Women Affairs; and Health and Social Welfare as key advocacy targets.
It also listed state governments, local government authorities and other institutions responsible for social protection, labour, health, pensions and economic planning among its targets.
The coalition said it would strengthen its advocacy through research and evidence gathering on social protection gaps affecting informal workers, document their lived experiences, develop policy position papers and engage decision-makers and other stakeholders.
It also plans to build a broad alliance involving trade unions, informal workers’ organisations, civil society groups, development partners, faith-based organisations, academia, policy experts and the media.
The coalition said it would pursue sustained engagement with government, legislators, development partners, organised labour, informal workers’ organisations and other stakeholders to promote an inclusive, accessible, adequate and sustainable social protection system in Nigeria.
