…PAVE, ASWOL, and partners call for policy reforms, protection, and dignity for frontline environmental workers
By Bunmi Yekini
Waste pickers in Lagos have called on government at all levels to formally recognise their contributions to environmental sustainability and end the widespread neglect, exploitation, and hazards they face in their daily work.
The call was made during a two-day capacity building workshop organised by the Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE) on May 14 and 15, 2025, under the Zero Waste Ambassadors Project and the Multi-solving Action to Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN) Project. The workshop, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference and Exhibition Center, Alausa-Ikeja, brought together members of the Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos State (ASWOL), civil society groups, and the media.
Participants discussed critical challenges confronting waste pickers including the lack of recognition, poor remuneration, hazardous work conditions, and denial of rights to unionise. The workshop also focused on building waste pickers’ capacity in understanding organic waste and its transformation into valuable products like compost and bio-inputs.
“Waste pickers are the unsung heroes of environmental protection in our urban centres. Yet they remain invisible and unprotected,” said Sani Yusuf, Executive Director of PAVE. “This workshop is about empowering them with knowledge and also amplifying their voices to demand justice and dignity.”
In a joint communiqué issued at the end of the workshop, the waste pickers and organisers noted that waste pickers face societal stigma and are often exploited by employers who offer little to no protective equipment or fair wages.
“We are constantly exposed to dangerous chemicals and waste without any protection. People look down on us, yet without our work, Lagos would drown in garbage,” said Rukayat Abdul, a representative of ASWOL. “We are not asking for too much — just recognition, safety, and a fair shot at a decent life.”
The communiqué issued by PAVE, ASWOL, Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), and Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), made several recommendations, including:
- Legal recognition of waste pickers as key stakeholders in the waste management value chain
- An end to all forms of stigma and exploitation
- Mandatory provision of protective gear by employers
- Legal backing for waste pickers to form unions and participate in policy-making
- Skills acquisition programs and social inclusion initiatives
The organisers urged government agencies and private sector actors to take urgent action to address these issues and ensure that waste pickers are integrated into the formal waste management system in a way that respects their rights and contributions.