FIWON: Workers’ Day Brings Little Hope for Informal Sector

The Federation of Informal Workers' Organizations of Nigeria (FIWON) issued a statement on Thursday, ahead of the 2026 International Workers' Day, indicating that Workers’ Day provides little hope for the informal sector. The organization, represented by Gbenga Komolafe and Bolaji Saadu, emphasized that 93% of Nigeria's workforce operates within the informal economy, which largely excludes them from government-backed welfare schemes.

They highlighted that informal workers, including traders, artisans, domestic workers, and others, account for at least 65% of Nigeria's gross domestic product but face significant challenges such as lack of pension, healthcare coverage, and workplace protections. FIWON criticized the micro pension scheme managed by the National Pension Commission, arguing it fails to provide adequate retirement protection for low-income earners.

The organization called for the introduction of a government-backed co-contributory pension model and urged authorities to subsidize healthcare for informal workers. They also demanded the extension of workplace protection laws to cover informal workers, who often face unsafe working conditions and harassment.