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The Informal Sector and Economic Development in Nigeria
THE INFORMAL SECTOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Nigeria’s informal sector has, in the last two-and-half decades, generated considerable interest at both intellectual and policy levels. (Mustapha, 1992, Schneider, 2001 and Chukwuezi, 2010). The informal sector constitutes a source Of livelihood for many households and communities and provides a wide range of services. It is not surprising that interest in the sector has arisen for a better understanding of the size and structure of the sector, Its interface with the formal sector, the role it can play in social and economic development and how to boost its performance. Despite the efforts stakeholders have made, a broad-based knowledge of the sector is still lacking, and policy initiatives are yet to provide a fillip for the sector. A robust and dynamic informal sector can contribute significantly to the GDP, create employment, and reduce poverty. However, there remains significant contention about the character and appropriate role of the informal sector in the Nigerian economy.
The broad objective of the study is to characterise the informal sector of the Nigerian economy and assess the contribution of the sector to economic development in the country. The knowledge of the sector will assist in articulating sectoral policies for accelerating the development of the country.
Download the Executive Summary at the link below.
To purchase this publication, contact:
NISER Knowledge Management Department
+234 813 056 9041
+234 813 903 9947
Or send an email to kmd@niser.gov.ng
Q2 2026 Job Vacancy Analysis Report (April – June 2026)
Q2 2026 Job Vacancy Analysis Report
The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) has released the Quarterly Job Vacancy Analysis (JVA) for Q2 2026, providing timely insights into trends and emerging patterns in Nigeria’s formal labour market.
Download the Full Q2 2026 Job Vacancy Analysis Report Here
Nigeria’s Manpower Stock and Requirements Report
Nigeria's Manpower Stock and Requirements Report
Nigeria’s Manpower Stock and Requirements Study examines the size, composition,
distribution and utilisation of manpower in the country’s modern-sector establishments and
educational institutions. It responds to a persistent national planning problem: shortages of
appropriately skilled personnel coexist with surpluses and underemployment in other occupations
and sectors. The central concern is therefore not simply the number of people available for work,
but whether the education, skills, occupational mix and geographical distribution of the workforce
match the needs of employers and the wider economy.
Download the Executive Summary at the link below.
To purchase the report, contact:
NISER Knowledge Management Department
+234 813 056 9041
+234 813 903 9947
Or send an email to kmd@niser.gov.ng
OWSD WEBINAR SERIES 14.0 REVEALS 50% OF WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN OYO RELY ON BEGGING FOR SURVIVAL
A study on women with disabilities in Oyo State revealed that 50 percent of respondents rely on begging for survival, exposing the economic hardship, discrimination, and social exclusion confronting women despite Nigeria’s disability rights legislation.
The findings were presented by Mrs Ngozi Iyoho of the Social Policy Department of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) during the Webinar Series 14.0 of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), Ibadan Branch, held at NISER, Ibadan, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The webinar, themed “Social Exclusion of Women with Disabilities: Implications for Policy Options,” examined the barriers preventing women with disabilities from accessing essential services, securing decent livelihoods and participating fully in society.
The study, which examined 40 women aged 18 and above with physical disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, and albinism, identified social exclusion, inadequate access to essential services, and limited economic opportunities as major challenges affecting their well-being.
According to the findings, social exclusion accounted for 27% of reported forms of exclusion, followed by service exclusion at 25%, political exclusion at 18%, economic exclusion at 17% and gender inequality at 13%.
The research further revealed that 50% of the respondents were unemployed, while 30% were self-employed. It also documented dependence on charity, personal resources, religious organisations and other forms of support, underscoring the financial vulnerability of many women with disabilities.
Using structured questionnaires, five key informant interviews (KII) and two focus group discussions (FGD), the study documented workplace discrimination, communication barriers, difficulties accessing healthcare and social services, and limited opportunities for inclusive education. It also highlighted the intersection of disability and gender inequality, with respondents reporting stigma surrounding marriage, difficulties navigating social relationships and concerns about sexual abuse.
The findings raise concerns about the implementation of Nigeria’s Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2019, and the country’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those promoting gender equality, decent work and reduced inequalities.
To address these challenges, the study recommended stronger enforcement of disability rights legislation, improved access to education and healthcare, accessible public infrastructure, expanded employment opportunities and targeted economic empowerment programmes.
It also called for public awareness campaigns to combat stigma and discrimination, as well as greater representation of women with disabilities in policymaking and decision-making processes.
Drawing lessons from Uganda, South Africa and Tanzania, the research emphasised the importance of sustained government support, effective policy implementation and initiatives that equip women with disabilities to achieve economic independence.
In her welcome address, the OWSD Ibadan Branch Coordinator, Dr. Bose Orimadegun, welcomed participants attending both physically and virtually. She expressed special appreciation to NISER Director-General, Prof. Antonia Simbine, and acknowledged the contributions and continued support of past executives of the organisation.
The webinar provided a platform for discussions on policy options for addressing the exclusion of women with disabilities and advancing their inclusion in social, economic and political life.
The study concluded that meaningful inclusion requires more than legislation, stressing the need for coordinated action by government, institutions and other stakeholders to ensure that women with disabilities can access essential services, secure decent livelihoods and participate fully in society.
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NISER Research Fellow Receives US$500 Research Grant at Inaugural IPSA-AAPS Africa Online Workshop Series
Mr. Jeremiah Oluwadara Omotayo, Research Fellow II in the Political and Governance Policy Department (PGPD) of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), has received a US$500 research grant following his participation in the inaugural IPSA-AAPS Africa Online Workshop Series (AOWS) held from 1–3 September 2026.
The Africa Online Workshop Series is a collaborative initiative of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) and the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), supported by the Nippon Foundation. The inaugural programme was designed to support graduate students and junior scholars affiliated with institutions across Africa through research development, professional training, mentorship and international scholarly exchange. The programme operated through separate English and French tracks, with each track limited to 12–15 participants, making the workshop a selective continental programme.
Mr. Omotayo applied for the English track following the open call for applications and was subsequently selected through a competitive process. His application included a curriculum vitae, research statement, work-in-progress and letter of recommendation, as required by the programme.
The three-day workshop featured professional development sessions, thematic research discussions, mentorship and dedicated research presentation sessions. On the final day, Mr. Omotayo presented his work-in-progress titled: “Agrarian Livelihoods and Rural Voting Blocs in Nigeria: Electoral Behaviour and Democratic Accountability in Kano and Anambra States.” The study examines how agrarian livelihoods, government performance, political parties, local political networks and clientelism interact to shape electoral behaviour and democratic accountability in rural communities in Nigeria.
The workshop provided an opportunity for Mr. Omotayo to receive intensive feedback from the workshop co-leaders and fellow participants working on related questions of democratisation, agrarian governance, rural politics and electoral behaviour.
Following the workshop, the co-leaders of the English track reviewed participants’ performance and selected Mr. Omotayo as one of the recipients of the programme’s US$500 research grants. The 2026 AOWS provided US$2,000 in total research funding through four individual US$500 grants, with two grants allocated to each language track. The grants are intended to support the further development of selected participants’ research.
This achievement reflects NISER’s commitment to strengthening research capacity and supporting its researchers to participate in national, continental and international scholarly platforms. It also highlights the Institute’s contribution to contemporary research and policy debates on governance, democracy, rural development and political participation in Africa.
About the IPSA-AAPS Africa Online Workshop Series
The inaugural IPSA-AAPS Africa Online Workshop Series was a 12-hour, three-day online programme held from 1–3 September 2026. The 2026 theme was “The Politics of Sustainable Development and Agrarian Governance”, with thematic areas including democratisation and rural voting blocs, the political economy of land governance, climate justice, conflict and resource competition, gender and agrarian reform, water governance, food security and the politics of agricultural commons.
The programme operated through English and French tracks, each accommodating 12–15 participants, and was designed to foster research excellence, professional development, mentorship and scholarly networks among emerging political scientists across the African continent.
NISER–IRI Technical Dialogue on Research and Policy-Making Sovereignty
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