The Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON) has said it is in the forefront to ensuring the rights of street and market vendors to welfare and social protection

The Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON) has said it is in the forefront to ensuring the rights of street and market vendors to welfare and social protection.

Its President, Ms Frances Onokpe and General Secretary, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

This is in commemoration of the International Vendors’Day marked annually on Nov. 14.

FIWON is also marking the day with street and market vendors organised in national and regional unions, and affiliate members of  StreetNet International (SNI). 

“In Nigeria, street and market vendors have been in the forefront of FIWON’s struggles for organised spaces for street vendors and other informal workers to work in.

“Also, for the right to social protection and structured occupational health and safety measures in the Nigerian informal economy, “ the duo said.

Both leaders said that street vendors were among the most vulnerable categories of workers, often subjected to institutional and state violence. 

According to them, over the years, StreetNet and its affiliates have fought for the recognition of street vendors as workers, for their inclusion in urban policy, for governments around the world to put a stop to police harassment. 

“It has also worked to protect the rights of migrant workers and cross-border traders as well as for the advancement of youth and women in leadership positions through training and capacity building. 

“It pursues unity of street vendors around the world, giving them the opportunity to speak with one voice in international forums and in negotiations with authorities, especially in the International Labor Conference, “ the leaders said.

The duo noted that over the years, FIWON had engaged different levels of government from the local, state, and federal as well as different ministries, departments, and agencies  of government. 

Both leaders said that in 2019, FIWON engaged the National Assembly for a possible institutionalisation of social protection programmes, especially in the areas of old age care and support as well as maternal and disability care  and support systems. 

“FIWON also partners the Social Security and Cooperative Department of the Federal Ministry of Labor to extend training and material support to vulnerable members.

“FIWON has worked with several international development agencies as well. 

“In 2023, FIWON was part of the International Labour Organisation Women Entrepreneurship Development project under which hundreds of women were trained in basic entrepreneurship skills and supported by mentors. 

“Other organisations FIWON has worked with include the Solidarity Center on reducing gender based violence in informal workplaces, the University of Lagos based Center for Housing, and Sustainable Development on the need for improved work environment for informal workers.

“Also, several health NGOs on free medical screening, the GIZ on skills training, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung on rights advocacy, and so on, “ the duo said.

Onokpe and Komolafe said FIWON also, had a registered Cooperative Society through which members had enrolled in health insurance, access credits, acquired solar energy products as well as participate in FIWON mortgage program over the  years