A large share of the world’s employed population is in the informal sector. Majority of people in the sector in sub – Saharan Africa live below the poverty line and their activities are necessary just for sheer survival. Women in sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria, have disproportionately large representation in the informal sector. Nigerian women are concentrated in the lowest rung of the informal employment ladder. They receive very low pay; their jobs lack social protection, rights and voice. These women represent one of the weakest groups in the economy. The objectives of this study are therefore to analyse the reasons for women’s disproportionate representation in the informal sector, analyse the various steps taken by the Nigerian government to support the sector, and propose ways of increasing women’s competencies and their employability in the informal sector. The study utilised primary and secondary data. The primary data were derived from objective and unbiased observation of women in Nigeria and the informal sector while secondary data included journal papers, official bulletins, seminar papers, textbooks, newspapers, magazines and internet sources.  Narrative reports, descriptive and content analysis were employed in analysing the data. The research revealed that government can support women in the informal sectors by organising special training programmes, extending existing laws on workers’ protection to cover the informal sector, accommodating more women in politics through quota system, and disbursement of interest-free credit to women entrepreneurs, among others.

Allnews (2020) “ Analysis: What Next For N – Power Beneficiaries After May Stipend Payment”? June 3rd

allnews (2020) ‘‘N – Power: 10 Days After Official Exit, Beneficiaries Still in Dark over What Next, 10th July

Akpan, I & Sempere, K (2019) ‘’Hidden Inequalities: Tax Challenges of Market Women in Enugu and Kaduna States Nigeria. Summary of Working Paper 97 ICTD Research in Brief, Issue 42, June

Akupuru, C.A & Okezie, N. (2019)’’Public Policy and Economic Empowerment: A Study of tradermoni Scheme of Buhari Administration in Nigeria. A Global Journal of Political Science and Administration Vol.7(3) July

Amoo, A (2018) ‘’Young Adult Literacy Rate in Nigeria’’ Educeleb, 30th July

Bank of Industry (2018) ‘’Economic Development through the Nigerian Informal Sector: A BOI Perspective’’ Working Paper Series, 17th May

Becker, K. F (2004) ‘’The Informal Economy’’ SIDA Report – March

Bello, R. A, Toyebi, G. O. A, Balogun, I. O & Akanbi, S,B (2009) ‘’Poverty Alleviation Programmes and Economic Development in Nigeria: A Comparative Assessment of Asa and Ilorin West Local Government Areas of Kwara State, Nigeria. Africa Research Review, Vol.3(4), July )

Bonnet, F, Leung, V & Chacaltana, J (2018) Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture, 3rd Edition. Geneva: International Labour Office

Chen, M. A (2001) ‘’Women in the Informal Sector: A Global Picture’’ The Global Movement, SAIS Review, Winter Spring

Ejere, E (2011) ‘’An Examination of Critical Problems Associated with the Implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Programme in Nigeria. International Education Studies Vol. 4(1) February

Financial Times (2019) Nigeria Election Dominated by ‘’time bomb” of Youth Unemployment, February 5th , Retrieved from www.ft.com > Politics > World > Africa

ILO (1996) Women Swell Ranks of Working Poor. Geneva: ILO

ILO (2002) ‘’Decent Work and the Informal Economy, Report of the Director – General, International Labour Conference, 90th Session, Report VI. Geneva: ILO

Markovic, M. R (2009) ‘’Women’s Entrepreneurship, Informal Economy and SME Development Policies in Serbia in Kyaruzi, I. S and Markovic,K. K (eds) Female Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Growth,: Outskirts Press Inc.

Mohapatra, K. K (2012) ‘’Women Workers in Informal Sector in India: Understanding the Occupational Vulnerability’’ Journal of Humities and Social Science Vol. 2(21) November

Nairametrics (2020) ‘’ Nigeria’s Unemployment Rate Jumps to 27.1% as at 2020 Q2’’, August, 2020

Nigeria (2010) Statistics of School Enrolment, Abuja: FME

Odiji, O, Nwoke, O & Adeseke, A (2016) ‘’The YouWin Entrepreneurship Programme and National Development in Nigeria’’ International Journal of Economic Development in Nigeria Research and Investment, Vol. 7(1) April

OECD/ILO (2019) ‘’Definitions of Informal Economy, Informal Sector and Informal Employment, Tackling Vulnerability in the Informal Economy. OECD Publishing Press

Policy Discussion Paper 2013 – 02 AfriHeritage Policy Discussion Paper 2, (2013) ‘’Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (Sure – P) Intervention in Nigeria: An Insight and Analysis’’ Enugu: African Heritage Institution (AFRIHERITAGE), October

Premium Times (2016) Buhari Agrees to Fund Jonathan’s Government Initiative, Youwin, June 28th Accessed at https://www.premiumtimesng.com/

Sule, B & Adamu, U (2019) ‘’National Poverty Eradication Programme in Nigeria (NAPEP): A Case Study of Capacity Acquisition Programme (CAP) in Gombe State in 2003. Journal of Public Administration and Governance Vol. 9(2)

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) (2015) Contribution to the 2015 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Integration Segment