FIWON Seeks Protection Of Informal Workers

The Federation of Informal Workers’ Organisation of Nigeria, FIWON, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to expand the 2004 Pension Act to include informal workers.

FIWON said that informal workers’ contributions into the pension fund will be complemented by state governments “on a 50-50 basis to reflect what currently obtains in the formal sector of the economy.”

“The expansion of the scope of the National Health Insurance Scheme is to include informal workers’ needs for healthcare, maternity care and accident insurance,” Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, General Secretary FIWON, said at a press conference on Tuesday in Lagos.

FIWON also kicked against the planned removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government, saying it will pauperise millions of Nigerians.

“Increases in the prices of petroleum products and electricity tariffs will make aggregate cost of production, transportation of food and raw materials even more prohibitive with attendant consequence of more small businesses closing down,” Komolafe said.

Informal workers are workers in the informal sector of the Nigerian economy.

—Simon Ateba