Nigeria’s Informal Sector Workers Storm National Assembly Demanding Matching Pension Grants And Subsidized Healthcare Services

FIWON protesters at the National Assembly demand matching pension grants and health subsidies for 77 million informal workers to combat inflation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 10:06 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Independent

A Massive Workforce Demands Institutional Recognition

Members of the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organizations of Nigeria, representing millions of self employed citizens, gathered at the National Assembly in Abuja to demand a structured social protection framework. Addressing the crowd, General Secretary Gbenga Komolafe emphasized that while informal workers such as traders, artisans, and domestic staff constitute over 92 percent of the national labor force, they remain largely invisible to state welfare systems. According to the organization, this demographic contributes approximately 65 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, yet faces complete exclusion from the safety nets enjoyed by the formal public and private sectors.

Countering Inflation Through Innovative Pension Matching

A primary grievance raised during the protest concerns the perceived failure of the current micro-pension scheme managed by the National Pension Commission. Komolafe argued that rising inflation has effectively eroded the value of long term savings, making voluntary contributions unattractive for low income earners. To rectify this, the federation proposed a matching grant system where the government provides a direct subsidy to complement worker contributions. According to the proposal, a trader’s monthly savings should be matched naira for naira by the state to provide a realistic hedge against the diminishing purchasing power of the local currency.

Expanding Health Insurance Through State Subsidies

The federation also highlighted a critical gap in the National Health Insurance Authority's coverage, noting that less than 10 percent of the population is currently enrolled. Protesters argued that high premiums are the primary barrier preventing market women and artisans from accessing quality medical care. According to Komolafe, state governments must intervene by subsidizing at least 50 percent of insurance premiums for informal workers. The group contends that making health coverage affordable is the only viable strategy to increase participation and reduce the high rates of self medication within vulnerable communities.