WORK WITHOUT PROTECTIONS: THE SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF EXPLOITATION AND PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIA’S INFORMAL ECONOMY

Abstract

Nigeria’s informal sector plays a vital role in sustaining livelihoods, providing
employment for a large share of the population and contributing significantly to everyday economic
survival. Yet, behind this importance lies a reality shaped by insecurity, weak protections, and
difficult working conditions. Many informal workers operate without stable contracts, social
security, or safe work environments, and these challenges often limit how productive they can be.
This study adopts a qualitative documentary research design, relying on secondary data drawn from
scholarly literature, policy documents, and institutional reports to examine how labour insecurity
influences productivity in Nigeria’s informal economy. Using Marxist Labour Theory as a guiding
lens, it explains that issues such as low wages, job insecurity, lack of social protection, and unsafe
workplaces are not random problems but part of a broader system that places workers in vulnerable
positions. As a result, many workers struggle not because they are unwilling or unskilled, but
because the conditions of their work reduce their capacity to perform effectively. The paper argues
that improving productivity in the informal sector requires more than short-term or technical
solutions. It calls for deeper reforms that prioritize fairness, protection, and inclusion in labour
relations. In particular, it recommends expanding social protection coverage to informal workers
through schemes such as the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), alongside simpler
pathways for gradual formalization. Ultimately, the study highlights the need to recognize informal
workers as essential contributors to Nigeria’s economy who deserve dignity, protection, and
support.