Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has begun a week-long study tour for officials of The Gambia’s Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC), as both institutions seek to deepen cooperation on workers’ compensation and social security administration.
The programme, which opened on Monday at the Fund’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, brings together members of the Board of the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund of the SSHFC to understudy the operations of Nigeria’s Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS).
Declaring the study tour open, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSITF, Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, said the visit would enable both organisations to share ideas, compare experiences and strengthen the delivery of social security services.
Represented by the Executive Director, Administration, Barr. Samaila Abdu, Faleye described the engagement as an important step in building stronger ties between the two institutions.
“This engagement is not merely procedural; it is a solemn occasion of historic significance. It provides a noble platform through which both institutions may exchange knowledge, compare experiences, and glean invaluable insights that will enrich our shared mission of delivering social security benefits to our citizens,” he said.
He said NSITF values its partnership with the Gambian agency and expressed confidence that the lessons from the study tour would help improve operations in both countries.
According to him, the week-long programme will include technical sessions, facility tours and discussions on policy implementation, administration and service delivery under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.
Earlier, the Executive Director, Finance and Investment, Olufemi Ayodele Samuel, said the study visit was organised to promote knowledge sharing and closer collaboration in industrial injuries compensation and social security administration.
He said the engagement would give both organisations the opportunity to discuss workplace accident prevention, disability benefits, survivors’ compensation, occupational safety standards and the management of social protection funds.
Samuel added that the programme would also expose the visitors to NSITF’s operational processes, including claims management, while laying the foundation for a stronger working relationship between both institutions.
Also speaking, the Executive Director (Operations), Barr. Mojisola Alli Macaulay, welcomed the delegation to Nigeria and assured them of a comprehensive study of the Fund’s operations.
She described NSITF as a leading social security institution on the continent and urged the visitors to make the most of the exercise.
Speaking on behalf of the Gambian delegation, Chairman of the Board of the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund and Permanent Secretary in The Gambia’s Ministry of Trade and Employment, Lamine Camara, said the delegation was in Nigeria to learn from NSITF’s experience and strengthen collaboration between both organisations.
“It is a way to sustain collaboration with sister organisations. We are here to learn from such engagement. We are motivated, and would be glad to share all the experiences we learn here back home,” Camara said.
The Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation is The Gambia’s statutory agency responsible for social security and housing finance, including industrial injuries compensation. In Nigeria, the NSITF administers the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, which provides compensation for workers who suffer work-related injuries, occupational diseases or death, while also promoting safety and health in the workplace.
