FG social protection targets 60 million informal workers
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, has declared that social protection is a human right and not an act of charity, stressing that the Federal Government is moving to cover at least 60 million Nigerians in the informal economy who currently lack any form of security.
Speaking in Abuja at the National Dialogue on the Extension of Social Protection to the Informal Economy, he said government must shift from talk to real action to secure workers whose daily struggles keep the economy running.
He said the Dialogue marks a fresh chance to rethink how Nigeria treats millions who work without contracts, benefits, or recognition.
The Minister noted that the informal workforce, which accounts for more than 65 percent of Nigeria’s employed population, has been left out of basic protections for too long.
He said traders, farmers, transport workers, artisans, domestic workers and digital freelancers drive the economy but face the risk of falling into poverty due to illness, workplace injuries, lack of pensions or maternity protection.
Speaking further, he warned that the country cannot build a fair or resilient economy when such a large population remains vulnerable and unprotected.
Dingyadi said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu views social protection as a duty of the State, not a favour, and aims to guarantee opportunity, safety and dignity for every Nigerian regardless of status.
He said the Dialogue reflects the government’s push to turn promises into real protections and bring informal workers out of the margins. He stressed that the plan is to extend social protection to all Nigerians, starting with those most excluded.
“Today, we write a new chapter in our collective journey to give dignity, inclusion, and protection to the over 60 million Nigerians who make up our informal economy.
“In many developing nations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa the informal economy constitutes the lion’s share of the workforce. Nigeria is no exception. By some estimates, more than 65% of our employed population work outside of formal contracts and formal protections.
“We cannot build a just, equitable, or resilient Nigeria when such a large portion of our workforce is left vulnerable.
“Under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Renewed Hope Agenda is more than a political mandate it is a social contract with the Nigerian people.
“At its heart is the belief that every Nigerian deserves opportunity, safety, and dignity, regardless of social status, income level, or sector of employment.”
“Social protection is not charity. It is a human right. It is the responsibility of the State to ensure a minimum floor of protection for all, especially the most vulnerable.” Dingyadi said
He explained that the Ministry will work with agencies, state governments, labour unions, cooperatives and civil society to build a unified system that avoids duplication and strengthens coverage, adding that synergy among key institutions is vital as fragmentation weakens results.
Furthermore, the Minister listed ongoing efforts such as expanding the National Health Insurance Authority and the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund to cover informal workers through mobile platforms.
He also highlighted the Micro-Pension Plan designed by PenCom and the National Bureau of Statistics to help low-income workers save for retirement, as well as CAC and SMEDAN programmes that give small businesses legal identity.
Moreso, he said pilot schemes with the ILO, UNICEF and the World Bank are already testing new models of income support and community insurance, while the Ministry is strengthening labour inspections and safety standards in informal clusters.
Dingyadi said the Dialogue must lead to concrete outcomes rather than reports that sit unused on shelves. He said stakeholders are expected to produce a National Framework for extending social protection to the informal sector and create a timeline for registration, coverage and financing. He added that the Ministry expects state governments to commit to co-funding protection systems and wants private sector players such as fin tech companies and cooperatives to support implementation.
He called for monitoring systems that ensure transparency and continuous improvement, noting that success requires full participation from all sectors. He said governments must prioritise inclusive protection, labour unions must defend all workers, and cooperatives must help register their members. He urged development partners to offer technical support, and community and faith leaders to help build trust among workers.
He reminded participants that Nigeria stands at a turning point where it must choose either to leave millions behind or bridge the gap between informality and inclusion. He said the Renewed Hope Agenda demands bold steps and results that matter for real people, not just statistics.
Dingyadi said he hopes the Dialogue becomes a landmark moment that accelerates the march toward a Nigeria where no worker is left in the shadows, where families are not pushed into poverty by illness, where women do not have to choose between childbearing and hardship, and where ageing workers retire with dignity instead of deprivation.
