The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) says the number of workers covered under its Employees’ Compensation Scheme has risen above 7.8 million, while the average time required to process claims has fallen from 14 days to 10 days.
The NSITF Managing Director and Chief Executive, Oluwaseun Faleye, disclosed this on Thursday at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit in Abuja, where he stressed the need for workers to begin preparing for retirement and potential workplace risks well before leaving active employment.
The summit, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, was themed “Own Your Retirement: From Planning to Action.” A policy dialogue at the event focused on “Between Duty and Delivery.”
Faleye said retirement security should not be viewed solely as an issue that begins when a worker exits employment, arguing that protection during the working years has a direct bearing on the quality of life in retirement.
He said factors such as workplace safety, access to healthcare, protection of earning capacity and compensation for employment-related injuries could significantly affect a worker’s financial security later in life.
According to him, pensions and personal savings remain important but cannot, on their own, provide comprehensive protection against risks that workers may face during their careers.
He explained that a worker who remains healthy and economically active throughout his or her career would have a different transition into retirement from someone whose earning capacity had been affected by a workplace injury, occupational disease, disability or the loss of a family breadwinner.
Faleye identified the Employees’ Compensation Scheme as a key component of the social protection system administered by the NSITF.
The scheme provides compensation for employment-related injuries and occupational diseases, as well as benefits for survivors in cases involving death. It also covers medical care, rehabilitation and support aimed at helping affected workers return to employment where possible.
On the Fund’s coverage, Faleye said more than 7.6 million workers were enrolled as of July 2026, with the number subsequently increasing to over 7.8 million.
He said the NSITF was also recording improvements in claims administration, with the average turnaround time for processing claims reduced from 14 days to 10 days.
The improvement, he said, formed part of broader efforts to make social protection more responsive and accessible to workers who require support following employment-related incidents.
Faleye added that the Fund was changing its approach to worker registration by moving beyond periodic enrolment drives towards sustained participation and compliance.
He said the NSITF was working with federal institutions, state governments, regulators and employers to strengthen coverage, while also expanding engagement with organisations and workers in the informal economy.
The NSITF chief maintained that social protection should be measured not only by the legal provisions available to citizens but also by the practical support workers receive when they become vulnerable.
He said effective protection during a person’s working years could help reduce the financial consequences of workplace injuries, occupational illnesses, disability and the death of a breadwinner, thereby contributing to greater security before and during retirement.
The latest coverage figures and faster claims processing, according to the Fund, reflect ongoing efforts to make the Employees’ Compensation Scheme more accessible to Nigerian workers and strengthen the role of social insurance in the broader retirement and social protection framework.
