The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, has raised concerns over the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the world of work, warning that the rapid pace of technological advancement poses new risks to job security and income stability.
Speaking at the 2025 Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) Workshop in Ibadan, Oyo State, Faleye said AI-driven disruption is expanding the scope of work-related risks beyond traditional factory-floor injuries to include technological displacement, income instability, and psychological stress.
Delivering a paper titled “Social Security and Protection for Nigerian Workers Amid AI Disruption,” he stressed the urgent need to reform and strengthen Nigeria’s social protection framework to safeguard workers in the changing labour landscape.
“AI has redefined what work means,” Faleye said. “Work-related risks are expanding—they now include job losses caused by automation, income uncertainty, and the stress of adapting to rapid workplace transformations. Social protection must evolve to meet these realities.”
He called for intentional policies and sustained investment in social security systems that not only compensate affected workers but also empower them to adapt.
“Social protection must evolve. We must rethink coverage, redefine risk, and reimagine support. In the era of AI, social security should not only compensate—it must empower,” he added.
While acknowledging that AI brings significant efficiency and productivity gains, Faleye warned that automation also threatens traditional job roles across multiple sectors, from manufacturing to administration.
He noted that Nigeria’s low social protection coverage, particularly in the informal sector—which accounts for more than 80 per cent of the workforce—remains a major obstacle to protecting workers from AI-induced disruptions.
Faleye, however, said technology could also be part of the solution.
“AI itself offers tools to make social protection more efficient—from digital identity systems that verify workers to predictive analytics that help detect fraud or anticipate workplace risks before they happen,” he explained.
To build a resilient and inclusive social protection system, the NSITF boss outlined key priorities including:
- Expanding social security coverage and protection schemes.
- Investing in digital literacy and reskilling for workers.
- Leveraging AI to improve social protection delivery.
- Strengthening collaboration among government, labour, and employers.
- Making workers’ welfare central to all innovation and policy decisions.
Faleye expressed optimism that with the right policies, proactive adaptation, and adequate protection mechanisms, Nigeria can ensure that “no worker is left behind” in the unfolding AI-driven economy.
“The future of work need not be bleak,” he concluded. “With the right preparation and policies, AI can become an ally—one that empowers rather than displaces the Nigerian worker.”?
