The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has called for stronger inter-agency collaboration across the public service to improve workers’ welfare, boost productivity and strengthen social security in Nigeria.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, made the call at a technical retreat on Presidential Priorities, Ministerial Deliverables and the Performance Management System (PMS).
Faleye, represented by his Technical Assistant, Dayo Aloa, commended the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment for convening the meeting, describing it as an important platform for dialogue, coordination and the exchange of ideas among agencies with shared responsibilities.
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“I commend the Ministry for providing this platform for dialogue, coordination and the exchange of ideas. Such engagements are important because the effectiveness of public service delivery depends not only on the performance of individual institutions, but also on how well we work together,” he stressed.
He noted that the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the NSITF shared the responsibility of delivering public value, strengthening institutions and improving the welfare and security of Nigerians.
Explaining the Fund’s mandate, Faleye said the NSITF administered the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), established under the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010, which provides compensation and support for employees and their dependants in cases of work-related injuries, occupational diseases, disabilities and death.
“At the heart of this mandate is a simple but important principle: no worker or family should be left without support when a qualifying workplace incident disrupts their livelihood and future,” he emphasised.
He maintained that workers’ welfare was inseparable from national productivity, industrial harmony and sustainable economic development, noting that protected workers could contribute more meaningfully to their workplaces.
Faleye explained that the Fund’s responsibilities extended beyond processing claims and paying compensation to include sustained engagement with employers and workers, increased awareness of the Scheme, stronger compliance with statutory obligations and improved commitment to workplace health and safety.
“We must remain focused on making the Scheme accessible, responsive, transparent and effective for those entitled to its protection,” he urged.
The NSITF chief executive observed that no single agency could independently address all aspects of workers’ welfare, employment protection, workplace safety and social security. He therefore called for reduced duplication of efforts, knowledge sharing and more coordinated responses to challenges facing Nigerian workers and employers.
“I therefore see this meeting as an opportunity to deepen our working relationships, identify practical areas of collaboration and strengthen the alignment between our respective programmes and priorities,” he noted.
Faleye reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to strengthening the implementation of the ECS, improving service delivery, promoting employer compliance and advancing workplace safety.
“As we deliberate on our institutional responsibilities and targets, we should remain mindful that the ultimate measure of our success is not merely the activities we undertake, but the tangible improvements our work delivers to the people we serve,” he concluded.
