Employee Compensation Scheme: Faleye Laments Non-compliance By States

NSITF Managing Director, Barr Oluwaseun Faleye with the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero during his visit to the NLC Headquarters in Abuja 

"The non-compliance "speaks to the vulnerability of the workers if some of the key protection mechanisms that are provided for them are not being utilized for one reason or the other". Barr Faleye.

"The scheme is a lofty initiative aimed at improving the working class and expressed his excitement at having the NSITF fully in charge of social security in the country." Comrade Ajaero.

..... Pledges organized labour’s support to the Fund's awareness campaign geared toward enhanced ECS compliance in the country.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye has lamented the low level of compliance by state governments in enrollment of their workers in the Employee Compensation Scheme, ECS.

The Managing Director spoke during a visit to the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, at the NLC Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday. 

Barrister Faleye noted that the non-compliance "speaks to the vulnerability of the workers if some of the key protection mechanisms that are provided for them are not being utilized for one reason or the other".

Speaking further, Barrister Faleye debunked the idea of the Fund as a revenue generating agency, explaining that the purpose of the NSITF was workers welfare and safety through compensation and rehabilitation in case of work related injury, disease or death as well as promotion of workplace safety and health. 

He said the investments undertaken by the Fund were primarily for sustainability and not for profit.

Barrister Faleye sought partnership between the NLC and the NSITF with a view to leveraging the apex labour union's reach and influence to enhance enrollment into the Scheme. 

He reminded the labour leadership of its role as a critical stakeholder in the Fund with its representation on the Fund’s Management Board. He appealed to the common interest of the two organisations which has workers’ welfare as the overriding interest.

The visit was in continuation of Barrister Faleye's effort at expanding enrollment into the ECS through stakeholder engagements, sensitization and inter-agency collaboration. 

The Employee Compensation Act which establishes the Scheme mandates employers of labour in both public and private sectors to contribute 1% of workers' salary to the Fund. 

The NSITF is mandated to indemnify, compensate and rehabilitate workers affected by workplace injuries, diseases and deaths.

In his response, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero promised to work with the NSITF to ensure compliance on the ECS scheme. 

He said the scheme is a lofty initiative aimed at improving the working class and expressed his excitement at having the NSITF fully in charge of social security in the country.

Ajaero also pledged organized labour’s support to the Fund's awareness campaign geared toward enhanced ECS compliance in the country.