NSITF Enrols 7.6 Million Workers in Compensation Scheme, Secures Historic Police Inclusion

Oluwaseun Faleye Esq 
MD NSITF 

“We have enrolled over 7.6 million employees into the Scheme. We secured the enrolment of the Nigeria Police Force into the ECS — a historic first — after engagements with the Inspector-General of Police.” Faleye Esq.

..... Says, “When our officers know that their families will be protected should they sustain injury or lose their lives in the line of duty, their confidence and gallantry will increase, and our national security will be the safer for us all.”

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has enrolled more than 7.6 million Nigerian workers into the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), marking a major milestone in the country’s social protection drive.

This was the disclosure by the Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye Esq, on Wednesday at the 2026 International Civil Service Conference, ICSC, in Abuja, where he also announced what he described as a historic first — the enrollment of the Nigeria Police Force into the compensation scheme.

According to Faleye, the move followed engagements with the Inspector-General of Police and is expected to boost morale among officers.

“We have enrolled over 7.6 million employees into the Scheme. We secured the enrolment of the Nigeria Police Force into the ECS — a historic first — after engagements with the Inspector-General of Police,” Faleye said.

“When our officers know that their families will be protected should they sustain injury or lose their lives in the line of duty, their confidence and gallantry will increase, and our national security will be the safer for us all.”

Speaking on the conference theme, “Reforms, Resilience and Results,” the NSITF boss said the demand for efficient and people-centred governance has made institutional reforms unavoidable.

“This theme is not merely aspirational. It is a call to action,” he said.

“For us in Nigeria, the conversation around reform is no longer optional — it is urgent. The future of governance and national development depends on the ability of our institutions to evolve, innovate, and respond effectively to the needs of our citizens.”

Faleye said the agency under his leadership had embraced reforms aimed at restoring public confidence, improving service delivery and expanding workers’ protection across the country.

He recalled that when he assumed office on July 15, 2024, the Employees’ Compensation Scheme established under the Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010, was grappling with operational inefficiencies, low public awareness and slow claims processing.

“The compliance was uneven. Claims processing was slow. Public awareness was low. And the confidence of stakeholders was fragile,” he stated.

“We chose not to complain about these challenges. We chose to confront them head-on through deliberate, bold, and measurable reforms.”

The NSITF boss said the Fund had partnered with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to strengthen transparency and anti-corruption mechanisms within the organisation.

He added that 120 staff members had been designated as Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit liaison officers nationwide, while efforts were underway to formalise collaboration with the ICPC through a memorandum of understanding.

On digital reforms, Faleye disclosed that the agency was migrating from paper-based processes to integrated digital systems to improve transparency and speed in claims administration.

“We are investing in automated workflows, real-time tracking of claims, and standardised processing timelines,” he said.

“Our goal is simple: no Nigerian worker or their family should have to endure unnecessary delays when they are entitled to compensation under the law.”

Faleye also highlighted efforts to deepen compliance with the scheme across states and the private sector.

According to him, the Fund had engaged governors of Lagos, Rivers, Delta, Sokoto and Taraba states, leading to a landmark agreement signed with the Lagos State Government in April 2026 for the full implementation of the ECS for state workers.

He said the NSITF was also pushing for the inclusion of ECS compliance certificates as a requirement for companies bidding for government contracts.

On compensation payouts, Faleye revealed that the Fund processed 22,350 claims in 2024, recording a 21 per cent increase in claims disbursement.

He listed some of the major payouts to include N90 million paid to a Seplat worker, N76 million to dependants of a Nigerian Breweries employee, N31 million in medical bills for a Nestlé worker and N42.5 million paid to the family of a deceased Depthwize employee.

“These are not just numbers — these are families who received justice, dignity, and support in their most difficult moments,” he said.

The NSITF Managing Director stressed the importance of workplace protection and welfare in strengthening governance and productivity, describing civil servants as the “engine room of governance.”

“Protecting the workforce through effective occupational safety standards, social insurance systems, and inclusive welfare policies is not a luxury — it is a national imperative,” he stated.

Faleye further disclosed that the NSITF partnered with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association and the Nigeria Labour Congress under the 2025 Safe Workplace Intervention Project, which audited over 200 workplaces nationwide.

He added that the Federal Government had now made the Employees’ Compensation Scheme mandatory for all federal public workers.

“The future of work is changing rapidly. Digitalisation, artificial intelligence, remote work systems, and evolving employment patterns demand that governments rethink traditional approaches to labour administration,” he added.

“Our institutions must therefore become proactive rather than reactive — anticipating risks, building safety nets, and empowering workers to thrive in the new economy.”