Nigeria’s Trade Unions/ILO forge path toward universal social protection in two-day programme
By Aishatu Yakubu Shalangwa, NLC/NUJ
Recently, a two-day capacity-building programme on social protection, organized by the ILO in partnership with Nigerian labour unions and UNICEF, concluded in Niger State . NUJ’s Aisha Shalangwa represented the NLC at the event.
The event, funded by the European Union, brought together 36 participants to accelerate the expansion of social protection coverage in line with ILO conventions, resulting in a set of prioritized recommendations to address critical gaps in coverage, benefits, and institutional coordination.
Nigeria faces severe social protection challenges, with 40% of its 220 million people living below the poverty line. The World Social Protection Report (2024) indicates that coverage stands at just 14.8%, with only 0.3-0.5% of GDP allocated to financing, leaving the vast majority of the 77 million informal workers excluded from meaningful social security.
Several critical gaps were identified during the programme, including low coverage among informal workers, inadequate pension and maternity benefits, fragmented institutional coordination, and significant gender inequities that disproportionately affect women.
Key speakers, including ILO specialist Ursula Kulke and various labour leaders, emphasized that social protection is a fundamental human right, not charity. They urged trade unions to build capacity and engage in effective negotiations with the government, while FIWOM Chairperson Blessing Yusuf highlighted the urgent need for subsidized health insurance for informal workers like market women.
Labour leaders from the NLC, TUC, and FIWOM reaffirmed their collective commitment to universal social protection, insisting that the standards set by ILO conventions must be enforced through strong unions and political will. They stressed that without implementation, the discussions would be meaningless for the millions of Nigerians lacking access to social security.
The ILO reaffirmed its commitment to providing technical assistance to Nigeria on fiscal analysis and legal drafting. The programme reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 1.3 and aligns with the ILO’s global campaign for universal social protection by 2030, concluding with a certificate ceremony and a group photograph.
