The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, has been described as a veritable partner in advocating the social protection of workers in the country.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Falaye, stated this in Lagos, South-west Nigeria while addressing the National Executive Council, NEC, of the NLC which took place in Lagos.
Mr Falaye said that “the NSITF is a major stakeholder in the advancement of the welfare of the workers in Nigeria.
“As a stakeholder in the welfare and advancement of the welfare of the members of the Nigerian Labour Congress across the nation, I use this opportunity to bring the goodwill of the Board and Management of NSITF to Nigerian Labour Congress.
“The Fund is your veritable partner in the social protection and security of all of Nigerian workers whose welfare you represent.”
He commended NLC’s leadership for ceaselessly canvassing for improved and enhanced welfare for the Nigerian workers.
Mr Falaye said; “On this occasion, I want to place on record the steadfastness of NLC and its leadership in advocating for enhanced welfare for all Nigerian workers, and use this opportunity to salute all of the personal sacrifices that you’ve demonstrated towards the collective advancement of workers’ rights and benefits.
“This steadfastness is evident in the work that we do together as stakeholders in progress.
“Of course, in the work that your representatives do on the Board of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, every time advancing the cause of workers’ benefits and workers’ protection through the mandate of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund. And it is for this reason that I find it very, very instructive that I’ve been invited today to speak to you about the role of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund in supporting your objective,and which is the welfare of Nigerian workers.”
Mr Falaye stated the statutory mandate of the Fund is to provide benefits, to pay claims and compensation in case of any work related injury saying that the organisation carry out the function in many ways.
“First, by prevention; Like you all know, we say that prevention is better than cure. And in that preventive mechanism is our responsibility under the Health and Safety Initiative, where we seek to encourage workers and employers, most importantly, ensuring that workers all over the country, both in the private and public sector, are working and operating from a safe working place.
“Beyond that, where this prevention fails, as is sometimes inevitable, our primary responsibility is to ensure that any injury, any death or any disability in the course of work, we come to the aid of the employee.
“And we do this all over the country, either in the private sector or in the public sector. And it is for that reason that I feel it is very, very instructive that I come here to address you, given that you are at the forefront of advancing the cause of employees”, he said.
Mr Falaye emphasised the importance of understanding the need to continue to hold employers responsible for compliance with the Employee Compensation Scheme.
“This is because it is through that scheme that we can build the necessary resilience that we need in our workforce,” he said.