Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has reaffirmed its readiness to host a successful and outcome-driven 2026 West Africa Technical Seminar of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), as part of efforts to strengthen social protection systems across the region.
The seminar is scheduled to take place at the Abuja Continental Hotel from April 22 to 23, 2026, bringing together key stakeholders in the social security ecosystem.
Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the event, Managing Director of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, stated that the Fund is prepared to facilitate meaningful, solution-oriented discussions in collaboration with development partners and industry stakeholders.
He explained that the seminar, themed “Improving Inclusiveness and Accessibility of Social Security Services through Effective Communication,” is part of a broader regional effort to enhance social protection frameworks. According to him, the initiative goes beyond a routine gathering, representing a strategic commitment to improving social security delivery across West Africa.
Faleye noted that Nigeria has made notable progress in strengthening its social security architecture, particularly through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme and expanded workplace injury coverage. However, he emphasised the need to deepen coverage, simplify access, and improve engagement with both employers and workers.
He further highlighted the urgency of reform, pointing out that millions of workers in the region—especially within the informal sector—remain outside formal social security systems. He stressed that the key challenge now lies not in recognising the importance of social security, but in improving its delivery and accessibility.
The seminar will convene a broad range of participants, including policymakers, social security institutions, employers, and labour representatives. Participating organisations include the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Nigeria, National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), UNESCO, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), among others.
Faleye underscored that communication plays a central role in expanding social security coverage, noting that challenges often stem from limited awareness, complex processes, and low trust in institutions rather than the absence of schemes.
He added that hosting the seminar reflects Nigeria’s commitment to regional leadership and continuous improvement, particularly given shared structural challenges across West Africa, such as large informal economies and evolving labour markets. The ISSA platform, he said, provides an opportunity for peer learning and context-specific solutions rather than adopting external models wholesale.
The NSITF Managing Director emphasised that strengthening social security systems requires a collective effort. Governments must provide enabling policies, institutions must ensure efficient service delivery, employers must comply with regulations, and workers must be adequately informed and empowered.
Expected outcomes of the seminar include the generation of practical strategies for improving service delivery, enhanced institutional collaboration across the region, and the identification of effective communication approaches tailored to real-world contexts. Ultimately, he noted, the goal is to transition from theoretical coverage to tangible, inclusive protection for workers across West Africa.
