Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has praised the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) for strengthening confidence in the federal government through the effective implementation of the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).
Receiving NSITF Managing Director, Oluwaseun Faleye, and his delegation in Port Harcourt yesterday, Fubara described the scheme as “a gift to Nigerian workers” and affirmed the state’s readiness to enrol.
“The good work of NSITF through the Employees Compensation Scheme is projecting the federal government in a very positive light,” the governor said. “Nothing will stop us from working towards subscribing to the scheme.”
Fubara added that the ECS could help curb corruption by reducing workers’ fears about their future and providing financial security in cases of injury, disability, or death.
Faleye, who earlier presented compensation cheques totalling N75.84 million to beneficiaries in the state, appealed to the governor to support wider adoption of the scheme. He also urged the state government to make NSITF compliance certificates mandatory for contractors—an idea Fubara immediately endorsed.
Compensation for Workers and Families
At the cheque presentation ceremony, the NSITF boss handed N54.64 million to the dependants of Ositoyibo Ogaga Joseph, an employee of Depthwize Nigeria Limited who drowned when a drilling rig collapsed in August 2023. The family will also receive monthly death benefits of N2.02 million until the deceased’s youngest child turns 21.
Faleye also presented N13.19 million to Okochi Aaron, a Daewoo employee who lost his left leg in a 2022 automobile accident. Aaron will continue receiving monthly disability payments until age 55.
A third cheque of N8 million was issued to NSITF staff member Kennelyn Ken-Mbata, who suffered a workplace knee injury. She thanked the fund for timely intervention.
Faleye attributed delays in claims processing to late submissions and the time required for investigations but reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to building a social protection system that meets international standards.
Representatives of affected companies commended NSITF for providing relief to families and injured employees, describing the scheme as critical to workplace welfare.
