The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, has praised the ongoing reforms at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), describing the agency’s transformation as a significant step towards improving workers’ welfare and strengthening the country’s social insurance system.
The minister made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the Board of the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund of The Gambia’s Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC), led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NSITF, Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Kamil Shoretire, Dingyadi commended the leadership of the NSITF for modernising the administration of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, particularly through the adoption of digital technologies aimed at improving efficiency and accelerating claims processing.
He said recent reforms have enhanced the country’s compensation mechanism, enabling injured workers and beneficiaries to access entitlements more promptly while strengthening service delivery across the institution.
The minister also welcomed the growing collaboration between Nigeria and The Gambia in the area of social security administration, describing the partnership as an opportunity for both countries to exchange ideas, adopt best practices and improve support for workers.
According to him, knowledge-sharing between the two institutions would not only strengthen their respective social insurance systems but also assist governments in delivering better social protection for citizens.
Dingyadi noted that although Nigeria has made notable progress, there remains room for improvement, expressing optimism that lessons from The Gambia’s experience could further enrich ongoing reforms within the NSITF.
Responding, NSITF Managing Director Oluwaseun Faleye thanked the minister for his support and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting regional cooperation among African social security institutions.
Faleye said Nigeria and The Gambia share similar demographic and labour market characteristics, making collaboration beneficial in addressing common challenges facing workers’ compensation and social insurance systems across the region.
He explained that the Gambian delegation’s visit followed discussions held during the International Social Security Association (ISSA) workshop hosted by the NSITF earlier this year, where representatives from several West African countries, including Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Cape Verde, participated.
According to him, the study visit provides an opportunity for technical teams from both organisations to exchange practical experiences on implementing workers’ compensation schemes, improving operational efficiency and enhancing service delivery.
Faleye stressed that the engagement was designed as a two-way learning process, noting that while Nigeria would share its operational experience, the NSITF also hopes to learn from The Gambia’s unique approaches to social security administration.
He added that the collaboration reflects the strong relationship between the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the NSITF, with the ministry providing policy direction while the agency focuses on implementation.
Speaking on behalf of the Gambian delegation, the Chairman of the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund, Pierre Gomez, commended the remarkable transformation recorded by the NSITF over the past decade.
Gomez said Nigeria has continued to serve as a reference point for social security institutions within the region, describing the country as “a big brother” whose experience offers valuable lessons for neighbouring countries.
He expressed satisfaction with the reforms and operational improvements witnessed during the visit, adding that the knowledge gained would be shared with stakeholders in The Gambia to strengthen their own compensation system.
Earlier, while receiving the delegation at the NSITF headquarters, Faleye reiterated the importance of sustained collaboration among African institutions, particularly in promoting workplace safety, preventing occupational hazards and protecting workers through effective compensation mechanisms.
He also expressed the agency’s willingness to deepen bilateral cooperation through future exchange visits and continued technical engagement aimed at strengthening social protection systems across West Africa.
