By TQM News Desk
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable workers across the country, particularly Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), through robust occupational safety and health measures as well as its Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS).
The assurance was given by the Managing Director of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, during the recently concluded International Civil Service Conference held in Abuja.
Represented by the Regional Manager, Abuja, Bridget Ashang, Faleye emphasized that the Fund remains dedicated to ensuring that no worker is abandoned when workplace accidents, injuries, occupational diseases, disabilities, or fatalities occur.
According to a statement signed by the Deputy General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Alex Mede, the NSITF’s Employees’ Compensation Scheme serves as a critical social protection mechanism designed to provide financial and welfare support to employees and their dependents when work-related incidents arise.
“NSITF runs the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, a social protection and social security programme for employees in the course of work. If there is any incident that leads to injury, disability, disease, or even death, we take care of dependents until the last child is 21 years old or graduates from a tertiary institution. That is the vulnerable group we talk about,” Faleye stated.
Prevention Better Than Compensation
While reiterating that compensation remains a core mandate of the Fund, Faleye stressed that preventing workplace accidents and occupational hazards remains an even greater priority.
He noted that NSITF has increasingly focused on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) audits across workplaces, identifying risks and guiding employers on corrective measures that can safeguard employees.
“For NSITF, our core mandate is compensation for employees when incidents occur in the course of work. However, we realize that prevention is better than compensation. That is why we are taking the lead in Occupational Safety and Health,” he said.
“We conduct workplace audits to identify what is wrong, what should be improved, and then recommend corrective actions. We guide employers, advise them, and work collaboratively to ensure safer workplaces.”
Workers Among the Most Vulnerable Groups
Faleye described workers as one of the most vulnerable groups in society, noting that many people endure difficult conditions daily to earn a living.
He highlighted the sacrifices workers make, from commuting long distances in harsh weather conditions to carrying out physically demanding tasks, often without adequate safety protections.
“I want to specifically talk about a vulnerable group that we sometimes do not even recognize as vulnerable—those who wake up very early every morning, prepare for work regardless of the weather, commute to their offices, and spend long hours carrying out various responsibilities. These workers deserve protection, and that is where NSITF comes in,” he explained.
Disability Inclusion at the Heart of Workplace Safety
The NSITF boss also underscored the importance of creating safe, healthy, and inclusive workplaces, especially for persons with disabilities.
He revealed that the Fund’s workplace safety inspections prioritize accessibility and inclusivity measures aimed at protecting workers with disabilities, women, young people, and other vulnerable groups.
“During the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, we have seen situations where disabilities arise as a result of workplace incidents. That is why we actively promote safe, healthy, and inclusive workplaces,” Faleye said.
“One of the key issues we assess during our Occupational Safety inspections is accessibility. We encourage employers to put measures in place that guarantee inclusivity for persons living with disabilities, women, youth, and other vulnerable populations.”
Social Protection Beyond Compensation
Faleye further explained that social protection extends beyond workplace compensation to broader societal well-being, including healthcare, immunization, maternal care, education, and support for vulnerable populations.
He noted that while many social protection interventions focus on children and pensioners, workers often receive less attention despite facing significant daily risks.
According to him, the Employees’ Compensation Scheme fills that critical gap by ensuring that workers and their families receive support when workplace tragedies occur.
Call for Stronger Legal Backing
Despite the achievements recorded under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, Faleye expressed concern that existing laws provide limited enforcement mechanisms to compel compliance with workplace safety standards.
“Our law mandates us to ensure that employees are properly protected while at work and that compensation is provided when incidents occur. We strongly believe in prevention because prevention is better than cure. Unfortunately, the law currently does not provide sanctions,” he lamented.
He called for stronger commitment from employers and stakeholders to prioritize workplace safety, accessibility, and inclusion in order to reduce occupational injuries and promote decent work for all Nigerians.
The NSITF’s renewed focus on disability inclusion and workplace safety comes at a time when advocates are increasingly calling for stronger protections, accessibility standards, and social security measures for Persons with Disabilities and other vulnerable workers across Nigeria.
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