Stakeholders Urge Reforms for Informal Workers' Protection

During a roundtable dialogue in Abuja organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), stakeholders demanded urgent reforms to enhance social protection for informal workers in Nigeria. Yesmin Salako Ejiwumi, the program officer at CITAD, emphasized the need for policies that account for the realities of informal workers who often lack access to digital tools and internet services.

Many artisans, traders, and rural workers are unable to participate in digital registration processes due to inadequate access to mobile phones and digital literacy skills. The dialogue aimed to identify gaps in Nigeria's digital social protection system and propose solutions to promote inclusivity.

Shamsudeen Abdulrazak from the Glow Mind Initiative stressed the necessity for a complete overhaul of Nigeria's social protection framework, particularly to expand digital penetration in rural communities. Sani Suleyman called for the Nigerian Data Protection Commission to proactively safeguard vulnerable citizens, especially rural women, from scams and fraudulent requests.

The discussions will inform future advocacy efforts and policy recommendations.