The Managing Director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, has urged all employers of labour to enroll into the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) and fulfill their obligations so that more families can benefit from its safety net.
Faleye made the call while presenting a cheque of N18,652,908.20, as death benefits to the family of an employee, who died in the course of official duty.
He said the Employee Compensation Scheme highlights the importance of employers’ role in contributing toward protecting their employees and their dependants.
The Managing Director, who was represented by the Executive Director Operations, Mrs Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, pointed out that “all responsible employers who are primarily concerned with the welfare of their employees are major stakeholders, who have a great role to play in the successes of the ECS”.
Some of the ways that stakeholders can help he said, is to encourage better safety practices by all employees in the work place and minimise the risk of work-related injuries or diseases as far as is practicable.
“It is with great humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today on behalf of NSITF, to present this cheque to one of our esteemed beneficiaries.
“Today’s event is not just a routine exercise, it is a re-affirmation of our commitment to the core values of social protection, compassion, and service.
“As a Social Insurance Institution, our mandate is to ensure that no employee covered by the scheme is left vulnerable in times of need, whether it is the unfortunate loss of a loved one, workplace injury, or disability, our goal is to provide timely and dignified support to the affected individuals and families.
“Today, we are here to fulfill that promise. The cheque being presented today represents more than just financial assistance, it is a token of solidarity, a demonstration of care, and a symbol of our collective responsibility as a society to look after one another”, Faleye said.
The NSITF boss also called for a proactive approach to reporting work-related injury or disease within the stipulated timelines to avoid penalties while also supporting the Fund in enlightenment of the ideals and benefits of the Scheme to other stakeholders.
He advised employers to re-assign injured or disabled employees to more suitable job functions within their organisation.
Mr Faleye then commended the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, the deceased employee’s employer, for the cordial relationship with the NSITF adding that both Organisations are committed to promoting the principles of the ECS, as enshrined in the Employees Compensation Act ECA 2010.
He also commended the staff of the NSITF and stakeholders “whose tireless efforts ensure that the NSITF services are efficient, transparent and accessible to all covered employers and employees of both the public and private sectors of the economy”.
The deceased was a staff of Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, who was involved in a road traffic accident while on his way from work.
About the ECS
The Employee Compensation Scheme was established by the Employees’ Compensation Act, and provides a social security/welfare system that ensures compensation for employees who experience work-related injuries, diseases, or death. It is managed by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and applies to all employees in both the public and private sectors in Nigeria.
The ECS is funded by contributions from employers, specifically 1% of each employee’s monthly payroll in the first two years of the scheme.
Furthermore, it provides for various types of compensation, including:
Compensation for injuries, including those sustained while traveling to or from work.
Compensation for occupational diseases,
Compensation for mental stress not resulting from an injury.
Compensation for hearing impairment.
Compensation for injuries outside the normal workplace.
The ECS also focuses on rehabilitating employees with work-related disabilities.
Hauwa Abu