The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) says it has enrolled the Nigeria Police Force into the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).
This is the organisation described as a “records historic first”. Presently, according to the NSITF, over 7.6 million workers have been successfully enrolled into the programme.
Managing Director of the Fund, Mr Oluwaseun Falaye, disclosed this at the 2026 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
In his words, “We have enrolled over 7.6 million employees into the scheme.
“We secured the enrolment of the Nigeria Police Force into the ECS — a historic first — after engagements with the Inspector-General of Police.
“When our officers know that their families will be protected should they sustain injury or lose their lives in the line of duty, their confidence and gallantry will increase, and our national security will be safer for us all,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the conference “Reforms, Resilience and Results”, Falaye said that the theme was not only aspirational but also a call to action.
Across the globe, he said, public institutions are under unprecedented pressure to deliver efficient services, restore public confidence, adapt to rapid technological and economic disruption, and ensure that governance remains people-centred and sustainable.
According to him, in Nigeria, the conversation around reform is no longer optional but rather urgent.
“The future of governance and national development depends on the ability of our institutions to evolve, innovate, and respond effectively to the needs of our citizens.
“I can say with confidence today that at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, we have chosen to lead by example.”
He maintained that reform is the foundation of institutional progress, saying that institutions that resist change eventually become ineffective and disconnected from the people they are meant to serve.
“True reform is not merely structural — it is cultural. It demands a shift in mindset from bureaucracy to responsiveness, from routine administration to strategic impact, and from excuses to execution.”
Giving an insight into his stewardship in the NSITF, the Managing Director, revealed that when he assumed office as Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund on July 15, 2024, he inherited an institution with enormous potential but significant operational challenges.
“The Employees’ Compensation Scheme — a landmark social protection instrument established under the Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010 — was not reaching its full potential.
“The compliance was uneven. Claims processing was slow. Public awareness was low and the confidence of stakeholders was fragile.
“We chose not to complain about these challenges; we chose to confront them head-on through deliberate, bold, and measurable reforms. Let me share the evidence.
“First, on governance and institutional integrity, we partnered with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms within the Fund.
“We empowered our Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit and designated 120 staff as ACTU liaison officers across all our offices nationwide. We initiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the ICPC to formalise our collaboration.
“This is not window dressing — it is a clear signal that the new NSITF operates on the non-negotiable principles of accountability and transparency,” Falaye stated.
Other areas that receive attention in reshaping the organisation include digital transformation, with investment in automated workflows, real-time tracking of claims, and standardised processing timelines which aim at ensuring that no Nigerian worker or their family should have to endure unnecessary delays when they are entitled to compensation under the law.
The NSITF also expanded its coverage and compliance when it launched a campaign to take the Employees’ Compensation Scheme to every corner of the nation.
On claims processing and service delivery, Mr Falaye said that in 2024, “the NSITF processed 22,350 compensation claims.” We achieved a 21 percent increase in claims payout. We paid N90 million in compensation to a Seplat worker, N76 million to the dependants of a Nigerian Breweries employee, N31 million in medical bills for a Nestlé worker, and N42.5 million to the family of a deceased Depthwize employee.
“These are not just numbers; these are families who received justice, dignity, and support in their most difficult moments,” he said.
The NSITF boss said he believes that “a resilient public institution is one that can withstand pressure, adapt to change, and continue to deliver value even in the most difficult of times, and resilience begins with people.”
“Civil servants are the engine room of governance. Therefore, protecting the workforce through effective occupational safety standards, social insurance systems, and inclusive welfare policies is not a luxury; it is a national imperative,” he added.
