Decent Work and Social Security: A Myth or Reality in Nigerian Macro Communities?

This study examined jobs in formal and informal sectors of macro communities of Ekiti State, Nigeria, with a view to determine whether they could be described as decent work. The study also examined the existence of social security in the state. While random sampling was used to select nine communities used in this study, a purposeful sampling technique was used to select a total of ten respondents who were currently employed in the formal sector and another ten respondents in the informal sector. These respondents were used for the study. Three research questions guided the study and the instrument used for data collection was combined questionnaire administration and interviews. Questionnaires were administered on 180 purposely-selected respondents. The data obtained from these set of respondents was analysed by using Likert rating scale. Results obtained in the former sector were negative for all the jobs attributes considered while the positive attributes observed in the informal sector were enveloped by failure of the workers in this sector to meet their basic needs for survival. The State lacked social security that could alleviate workers’ poverty. Hence decent work is lacking in the State. Also the enabling environment for decent work is lacking in the state. The inconsistency in policy formulation and implementation, lack of sincerity by government as well as the recently experienced economic recession in Nigeria does not enhanced social security in the state. The study concluded that decent work and social security in the state could be described as a myth rather than a reality. Recommendations capable of attaining decent work and social security in the state were made.

Keywords: Decent Work, Social Security, Myth, Reality, Macro Communities.