By Michael Oche
Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye, has called for stronger judicial interpretation, adjudication and enforcement under the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) 2010, to ensure that Nigerian workers actually experience the justice the law promises.
Faleye made the call on Thursday in his welcome address at the opening of the NSITF 2026 Legal Stakeholders’ Engagement in Abuja.
The two-day event is themed “Enhancing Judicial Interpretation, Adjudication and Enforcement under the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA), 2010.”
Mr. Faleye noted that while last year’s engagement focused on strengthening collaboration for the sustainable administration of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, this year’s edition addresses a deeper question: how statutory rights can be translated into practical justice.
Drawing on the experience of everyday Nigerian workers — mothers, construction workers, factory employees and drivers who leave home each day expecting to return he observed that a workplace accident instantly becomes a human crisis with financial, emotional and social consequences.
“Does the law provide a framework for protection? Yes. Does the Employees’ Compensation Act establish a system for compensation for work-related injury, disease, disability or death? Yes. But the existence of a law does not by itself guarantee that its promise will be fulfilled,” Mr. Faleye said.
He explained that the effectiveness of the ECA depends on three interconnected stages — interpretation, adjudication and enforcement:
“First, are the provisions being understood and applied in a manner consistent with their wording, purpose and legal context? Second, are disputes being resolved fairly, on evidence and applicable law, without avoidable delay? Third, are lawful decisions and orders being given effect so that justice does not end with the pronouncement of judgment? Weakness at any stage can undermine confidence in the entire system.”
The NSITF Managing Director underscored the pivotal role of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in labour justice, noting that the Court’s interpretation of the Employees’ Compensation Act has consequences beyond the immediate parties to a dispute. Such decisions, he said, clarify rights, guide the conduct of employers and employees, and shape the resolution of future disputes.
For workers, he said, justice means the practical realisation of their entitlements; for employers, it means a predictable legal environment. The credibility of the Scheme, he added, rests on workers’ confidence that legitimate claims will be addressed and on employers’ confidence that their obligations will be determined fairly.
Mr. Faleye affirmed that the Fund will continue to strengthen its administrative processes, improve claims handling, promote awareness and encourage employer compliance. He acknowledged, however, that the NSITF cannot achieve these objectives in isolation.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, stated that the strength of a nation lies not merely in the laws it makes, but in the wisdom with which those laws are applied and the integrity of the institutions entrusted with their administration.
While laws may establish rights and define obligations, the Minister said, public confidence ultimately rests on the assurance that justice will be administered fairly, impartially and with due regard for the dignity of every individual.
Recalling the enduring words of the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa that “the judiciary is the last hope of the common man,” the Minister observed that “…this statement carries a profound responsibility.
It reminds us that for many citizens, the justice system represents their final recourse when other avenues have failed. Such trust must never be taken lightly.” Such trust, he said, demands wisdom in judgment, integrity in public service and an unwavering commitment to fairness.
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment’s belief that a just and productive society must be built on respect for the law, responsible institutions and a shared commitment to the public good, and urged all stakeholders in the administration of the ECA to approach their responsibilities with these values in mind.
“The credibility of our institutions is strengthened not by words alone, but by the quality and integrity of their actions,” he stressed.
