A team from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Awka branch, in a bid to enhance the welfare of civil servants, has visited Anambra State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Chika Ifemeje, at her office in the Ministry of Justice, Awka. The visit was aimed at introducing the Employee Compensation Scheme (ECS) and advocating for its implementation across all civil service sectors in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Barrister Emeka Onunkwo, Head of the Legal Unit at NSITF, described the ECS as a critical social security initiative backed by the Employee Compensation Act (ECA), a statute of general application. He explained that the scheme, which came into effect in July 2011, offers a comprehensive and affordable scale of compensation and benefits designed specifically for government workers.
According to Onunkwo, the ECS ensures all employees, regardless of rank or position, are protected in the event of work-related injuries, illnesses, or death. The benefits include coverage of hospital bills, provision of prosthetic limbs, and support for the children of deceased employees, with educational sponsorship up to 21 years or completion of higher education in some cases.
He further clarified that participation in the scheme does not require financial contributions from employees. Instead, the state government, as the employer, contributes one percent of the civil servants’ payroll monthly to fund the scheme.
Onunkwo emphasised the scheme’s operational hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on working days and noted its headquarters are located in Abuja. He urged the scheme’s prompt adoption, citing its potential to significantly improve employee welfare and workplace security.
Other members of the NSITF delegation included Mr. Okechukwu Ndubuisi (Head of Unit), Mr. Ruben (Claims Unit), Dr. Ejike Mgbodu (Informal Economy), Ms. Izuogu Florence, and Mrs. Oguji Angela (both from the Compliance Unit).
In her response, Attorney General Prof. Ifemeje commended the NSITF team for their initiative and expressed strong support for the ECS. She assured the delegation of her commitment to advancing the scheme by collaborating with the Head of Service, Lady Okwy Igwegbe, to draft a joint memo to the Governor advocating its implementation.