The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Oluwaseun Falaye, has identified institutional trust as the cornerstone for rebuilding public confidence and achieving effective governance in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Gwagwalada Branch, Falaye stressed that strong institutions—not just laws—are essential to protecting citizens and delivering justice.
He warned that public confidence remains one of Nigeria’s biggest governance challenges, noting that citizens and workers expect laws and protections to function in reality, not merely exist on paper.
Falaye emphasised that the mandate of the NSITF, particularly through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, is to ensure workers are protected against workplace injury, disability, or death, describing social protection as both a legal obligation and a moral imperative.
He added that trust must be built through consistent performance, transparency, and accountability, rather than demanded by institutions.
Also speaking, NBA Gwagwalada Chairman Clever Owhor highlighted declining public confidence in the legal system, citing delays, ethical concerns, and limited access to justice.
Both speakers called for collective action among the judiciary, legal practitioners, government institutions, and civil society to restore trust, stressing that sustainable development is impossible without credible institutions and a justice system that commands public confidence.
