…Say It’s Key to Economic Stability
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the European Union (EU) have thrown their weight behind Nigeria’s ongoing review of its social protection policy, describing the sector as a critical macroeconomic tool capable of driving economic stability, reducing poverty and tackling widening inequality.
The Country Director of the ILO Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Dr Vanessa Phala, noted that social protection must be viewed beyond welfare, stressing its central role in economic management and national development.
She spoke at the closing ceremony of the accreditation process for the first cohort of national master trainers on TRANSFORM methodology on social protection in Nigeria organised in collaboration with the TRANSFORM Hub on Tuesday in Abuja themed, “Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria.”
She said: “Social protection is not just a welfare stabiliser; it is a very important macroeconomic intervention that addresses poverty, inequality and vulnerability.
Phala disclosed that Nigeria was currently reviewing its national social protection policy to strengthen implementation and provide clearer guidance at the federal level, while several states have begun developing or revising their own frameworks.
According to her, the policy review process was inclusive, with employers and workers actively shaping the outcome.
“We have created spaces for our constituents, including the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), to interrogate the policy from the employers’ perspective. Similarly, labour centres like the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have also engaged to ensure workers’ voices are reflected.”
Phala noted that despite ongoing interventions, only about 14 per cent of Nigerians were re currently covered by at least one form of social protection, underscoring the urgency for expansion, particularly into the informal sector.
She explained that the ILO was working with key institutions such as the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to broaden access to healthcare, a core component of social protection.
The ILO official further highlighted efforts to extend coverage to Nigeria’s vast informal economy, where vulnerability remains highest.
“In the informal economy, you find significant decent work deficits. Social protection must respond to that reality, ensuring access to support mechanisms for those who need them most,” she said.
Phala also revealed that current interventions under the programme were being implemented in four states; Oyo, Benue, Sokoto and Abia, with plans for expansion as institutional capacity improves.
On capacity development, she explained that participants underwent rigorous training and certification processes, including practical “step-down” training to assess their ability to transfer knowledge.
*To train is not something everyone can do. We had to ensure that those certified are well equipped to deliver effectively,” she added.
Also speaking, EU Programme Manager, Chioma Osuji, emphasised that an effective social protection system is fundamental to achieving inclusive economic growth.
“If we get social protection right, then we also get economic growth right,” Osuji said, noting that the sector cuts across education, health, gender and broader social development.
She disclosed that Nigeria was close to concluding the review of its national policy, with ongoing consultations to ensure alignment across federal and state levels.
Osuji said the EU, alongside partners like UNICEF and the ILO, was supporting the development of an integrated and interoperable social protection database to improve targeting and efficiency.
“We are working with multiple institutions, including the National Bureau of Statistics, to ensure that data collection reflects social protection realities. This will help us understand poverty levels and design better interventions.”
Highlighting systemic gaps, Osuji pointed to weak data systems and poor coordination as major challenges that have historically undermined impact.
She stressed that social protection must be implemented holistically, warning that isolated interventions often fail to deliver meaningful outcomes.
“For instance, giving cash support to a vulnerable household without access to healthcare or education will not produce sustainable results. Social protection must be integrated across sectors,” she explained.
Osuji further linked the initiative to Nigeria’s broader poverty reduction efforts, including interventions targeting out-of-school children, estimated at about 20 million.
“Addressing poverty requires a comprehensive approach from cash transfers to health insurance and access to education. That is what a functional social protection system should deliver.”
The EU official added that newly trained experts would serve as catalysts for reform, supporting both national and sub-national governments to design and implement effective policies.
“These trained actors will return to their institutions and states to drive the development of sustainable social protection systems across Nigeria.”
