Managing Director of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye
Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), has restated its commitment to protecting vulnerable workers, especially persons living with disabilities, through stronger workplace safety measures and social protection.
Managing Director of the Fund, Oluwaseun Faleye, stated this during a panel session at the just concluded International Civil Service Conference in Abuja.
Faleye, who was represented by the Fund’s Abuja Regional Manager, Bridget Ashang, spoke on the theme: “Inclusive Public Services for Women, Youths, Persons with Disabilities and Vulnerable Groups.
He said the Fund’s Employees’ Compensation Scheme was aimed at ensuring workers and their dependants are protected whenever accidents, disabilities, diseases or death occur in the course of work.
According to him, dependants of deceased workers under the scheme continue to receive support until the last child turns 21 or graduates from a tertiary institution.
Faleye said beyond compensation, the agency was now placing stronger attention on prevention through occupational safety and health measures.
“For NSITF, our core mandate is compensation for employees if there is any incident in the course of work. However, we realise prevention is better than compensation, and that is why we are leading when it comes to occupational safety and health,” he said.
He explained that the Fund carries out workplace audits to identify hazards and recommend corrective actions aimed at reducing accidents and work-related disabilities.
“We get to carry out audits of workplaces to say this is what is wrong and what should be corrected. We guide, advise and accommodate,” he added.
Faleye described workers as one of the most overlooked vulnerable groups despite the risks they face daily.
“What about the working group? They wake up every morning, commute in all kinds of weather, spend long hours at work and carry out different tasks daily. Those are the people NSITF is concerned about,” he said.
He added that some disabilities arise directly from workplace incidents, making safe and inclusive workplaces important for women, youths and persons living with disabilities.
The NSITF boss, however, lamented that the law establishing the scheme does not provide sanctions against employers who fail to uphold workplace safety standards.
“Our law says employers should ensure workers are properly protected while working. Unfortunately, there are no sanctions,” he stated.
Other panelists at the session included Kachallom Daju, Hansatu Adegbite, Olubunmi Olusanya, Beatrice JD Agba, Jake Epelle and Kristin Envig.
