The Federal Government has been called upon to create a Ministry for workers in the informal sector to give room for progressive modernisation, development and formalisation of the sector.
Comrade Maryam Usman Ibrahim, Chairperson, Kogi State Federation of Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria FIWON made the call while speaking with journalists in Lokoja yesterday.
She said that the informal workers are made up of 80% of the adult working population in the country.
Comr. Maryam observed that the informal economy in Nigeria employs over 90% of Nigerian workers, but lamented that the workers who are self employed in the country work in jobs that pay no retirement, maternity and holiday benefits or provide social protection.
The FIWON chairperson noted that the informal economy in Nigeria employs 90% of Nigeria’s working population. It contributes over 60% of the GDP. FIWON expressed worries over government’s bias in the application of social protection instruments for workers in the sector.
She expressed concern over the plight of most informal workers, describing the development as precarious.
She pointed out that government policies have led to the collapse of many industries in the formal sector over the years, leading to rapid expansion of the informal sector.
The Chairperson of FIWON also expressed disappointment that the existing social security frameworks in the country such as the NHIS, Workmen Compensation Act and the Micro Pension Plan practically exclude informal workers.
Comr. Maryam also called for the application of Article 25 of the UN Declaration on Human Rights for social protection of informal workers.
She lamented the problems faced by artisans such as constant harassment by government officials, excessive taxation, extortion, poor access to affordable credit.
She decried the lack of occupational health and safety facilities, training especially on the use of new technologies as well as access to work spaces with basic infrastructure, social protection, paid leave, health accident and old age insurance.
