Abuja, Nigeria, January 19, 2024: The Federal Government of Nigeria is joining forces with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to increase access to social safety nets for its citizens. This collaborative effort aims to significantly improve the lives of many Nigerians by enhancing the scope and impact of social protection initiatives in the country.
Focus on vulnerable populations and health insurance: The partnership’s key areas of focus include extending health insurance coverage and reaching vulnerable populations, particularly those in the informal economy facing poverty, health challenges, and unemployment.
Minister pledges commitment: Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, expressed her gratitude for the collaboration and emphasized the government’s commitment to social protection. She stated, “Everybody is entitled to social protection. Citizens need to be reassured on their protection by the government.”
Challenges and opportunities: The ILO delegation, led by Regional Social Protection Specialist Dramane Batchabi, highlighted the urgency of expanding social protection coverage in Nigeria, where only 17% of the population currently benefits from such programs. Batchabi identified the vast informal economy, funding constraints, and fragmented social protection landscape as major challenges.
Recommendations for improvement: Batchabi suggested ways to address these challenges, including leveraging the National Social Protection Policy, optimizing interventions through the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), and streamlining fragmented programs. He also encouraged analyzing the ILO’s recommendations and identifying strategic funding sources.
ILO’s commitment to support: The ILO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s social protection efforts, recognizing the need for joint collaboration to identify sustainable funding for program expansion.
Overall, this partnership between the Federal Government and the ILO represents a significant step towards improving the lives of many Nigerians by providing them with greater access to social safety nets and addressing critical challenges in the country’s social protection landscape