The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Oluwaseun Falaye, has emphasised that workplace safety and social protection are fundamental pillars of national development, economic stability, and human dignity.
Falaye made the remarks in Abuja when legal stakeholders gathered at Barcelona Hotels to discuss the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) and strategies to strengthen its impact.
“Workplace safety and social protection are not optional; they are foundational to our national development, economic productivity, and human dignity,” he said. “They are pillars of social justice, economic stability, and national productivity—pillars that guarantee peace of mind for workers and support risk mitigation for employers.”
He stressed that safeguarding workers directly contributes to business growth and the country’s prosperity. “When workers are safe, employers thrive and the nation prospers. Protecting workers is protecting the nation’s future,” he added.
Speaking on the relevance of the engagement, Falaye noted that the theme of the conference — “Enhancing Stakeholder Collaboration for Sustainable Employees’ Compensation Administration” — underscores the need to strengthen legal frameworks that guarantee social insurance for Nigerian workers, particularly those exposed to occupational injuries, diseases, or fatal incidents.
Falaye highlighted that the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) 2010 established the ECS, administered by the NSITF, to ensure adequate and equitable compensation for employees who suffer work-related injuries, disabilities (including mental health conditions), or diseases. The Fund is also responsible for providing support to the families of deceased workers.
Beyond compensation, the NSITF offers rehabilitation and post-accident empowerment programmes, with a strong focus on preventing workplace hazards.
Citing International Labour Organisation (ILO) data to illustrate the scale of the challenge, Falaye noted that more than 2.8 million workers die annually from occupational accidents and diseases, while over 374 million suffer non-fatal injuries that often result in long-term disabilities. He added that poor occupational safety practices cost the global economy an estimated 4% of global GDP each year.
