By Michael Oche
The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, has called for stronger inter-agency collaboration across the public service to enhance workers’ welfare, productivity and social security.
Faleye made the call on Thursday in Abuja in his goodwill message at the Technical Retreat on Presidential Priority, Ministerial Deliverables and Performance Management System (PMS).
He commended the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment for convening the meeting, describing it as a vital platform for dialogue, coordination and the exchange of ideas among agencies with shared institutional responsibilities.
“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 said.
Faleye, who was represented at the retreat by his Technical Assistant, Dayo Aloa, noted that the Ministry of Labour and the NSITF shared a common responsibility to “deliver public value, strengthen institutions and improve the welfare and security of Nigerians.”
Speaking on the Fund’s mandate, Faleye explained that the NSITF administers 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 said.
He stressed that workers’ welfare was inseparable from national productivity, industrial harmony and sustainable economic development, noting that workers who feel protected are better positioned to contribute meaningfully to their workplaces.
Faleye added that the Fund’s responsibilities extend beyond claims processing and compensation payments to include sustained engagement with employers and workers, increased awareness of the Scheme, improved compliance with statutory obligations and a stronger 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 stressed.
Emphasising that no single agency could independently address all aspects of workers’ welfare, employment protection, workplace safety and social security, the NSITF boss called for reduced duplication of efforts, greater knowledge sharing and more coordinated responses to the 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 said.
Looking ahead to 2027, Faleye reaffirmed the NSITF’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 said.
