FG Pledges Inclusive Social Security for Traders, Artisans

The Federal Government has said that it is committed to extending social protection to informal sector workers to promote inclusive development, reduce poverty and improve livelihoods across the country.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammadu Maigari-Dingyadi, disclosed this in Sokoto at the State-Level National Dialogue on the Extension of Social Protection to Informal Economy Workers.
The dialogue, themed “Taking Action Towards Inclusive Social Protection and Universal Coverage”, was organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Maigari-Dingyadi said the initiative was part of the broader commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improving livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities.
He said workers who contribute to the economy deserve adequate protection against unforeseen circumstances that could affect their income and household welfare.
According to him, social protection is closely linked to decent work, human dignity and livelihood security.
The minister noted that informal economy workers in Sokoto, including leather workers, traders, craftspeople and artisans, contribute significantly to local economic activities but remain largely outside formal social protection arrangements.
He said there was a need to develop systems that reflect the realities of their work, income patterns and specific needs.
Maigari-Dingyadi identified contributory schemes, micro-insurance, simplified registration and cooperative-based arrangements as possible approaches to expanding social protection coverage among informal workers.
He called for stronger collaboration among the Federal, State and Local Governments, workers’ organisations, employers, cooperatives, civil society organisations and development partners to achieve the objective.
The minister said social protection policies must recognise the contributions of informal workers and respond to their specific circumstances.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with the Sokoto State Government and other stakeholders to translate national commitments into practical measures to improve workers’ welfare.
He commended the Sokoto State Government, the ILO, development partners and other stakeholders for supporting the dialogue.
Gov. Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, in his remarks, said the initiative aligned with his administration’s nine-point Smart Agenda for promoting development and improving livelihoods in the state.
Aliyu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Bello Muhammad-Sifawa, said social protection was not merely a government programme or policy but a matter of human dignity, social justice, economic security and shared responsibility.
“It is about ensuring that no worker, family or vulnerable member of society is left without support.
“The informal economy is the backbone of livelihoods across the state and the country, as millions of people depend heavily on it for the survival and sustenance of their families,” he said.
Aliyu, however, said that in spite of their contributions to national development, most informal economy workers remain outside formal social security arrangements, with no guaranteed pensions, reliable income support during illness or protection against workplace accidents.
“We must go beyond recognising their contributions to ensuring that they enjoy meaningful protection, access to essential services and opportunities to improve their economic security,” he said.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing essential support to the informal economic sector.
The Director of the ILO Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Mrs Vanessa Phala, said social protection is a human right and a foundation of social justice.
She said such provisions help households withstand shocks, support local economies and enable workers and enterprises to transition towards formality.
The representative of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Onyeka Chris, in his remarks, called for greater protection for informal economy workers, describing them as the heartbeat of the nation’s economy.
He noted that despite their enormous contributions to feeding the nation and building communities, informal workers remain among the most vulnerable and least protected members of society.
In separate goodwill messages, representatives of the Sultanate Council, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), UNICEF and the Sokoto State Head of Service commended the organisers and called for broader social protection for informal economy workers.
Participants included leaders of informal workers’ unions and representatives of the NLC, TUC, UNICEF, ILO, among other stakeholders.