NSITF Makes History, Pays N31.7m Compensation to Families of Federal Workers

"We are not here for a ceremony. We are here to keep a promise." Faleye

.... Says "the compensation represents the transition of the Employees' Compensation Scheme from policy to practical support for workers and their families."

The landmark presentation marked a major milestone in the implementation of the Employees' Compensation Act (ECA) 2010, coming 15 years after the law was enacted.

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has made history by paying its first-ever compensation to beneficiaries from treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), disbursing over N31.7 million to five families of federal workers affected by death or workplace injuries.

The landmark presentation, held on Tuesday in Abuja, marked a major milestone in the implementation of the Employees' Compensation Act (ECA) 2010, coming 15 years after the law was enacted.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSITF, Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye, described the exercise as the fulfilment of a long-standing promise to Nigerian workers rather than a ceremonial event.

"We are not here for a ceremony. We are here to keep a promise," Faleye said, adding that the compensation represents the transition of the Employees' Compensation Scheme from policy to practical support for workers and their families.

According to him, the ECA guarantees compensation for employees who suffer work-related injuries, occupational diseases or death in the course of duty, but federal civil servants had largely been unable to access the benefits until now.

He attributed the breakthrough to the recent integration of federal workers into the Employees' Compensation Scheme (ECS) and the establishment of an ECS Help Desk at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation earlier this year.

Faleye praised the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for championing compliance with the scheme across the public service.

Addressing the beneficiaries, he acknowledged that no amount of money could replace lost loved ones but stressed that the compensation was a recognition of their sacrifice and proof that they had not been forgotten.

He also assured families that the Fund would continue to improve claims processing while strengthening occupational health and safety measures to reduce workplace accidents.

The NSITF boss urged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies yet to fully enrol their workers in the scheme to do so without delay, warning that while workplace risks remain inevitable, workers must not be left without protection.

The five beneficiaries received a total of N31,720,570.50, with payments made to families and affected workers from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the University of Abuja, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Walson-Jack, described the presentation as a significant step in translating government's commitment to workers' welfare into practical reality.

She commended the leadership of NSITF for successfully implementing the Employees' Compensation Scheme within the federal public service and noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda by placing workers' welfare at the centre of governance.

She recalled that the Office of the Head of Service and NSITF recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding and launched the Employees' Compensation Scheme Help Desk to simplify claims processing, noting that Tuesday's presentation demonstrated the success of that partnership.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Kamil Ayinde Shoretire, said the compensation exercise reflected the Federal Government's commitment to workplace safety, social protection and improved productivity.

He described the Employees' Compensation Scheme as a critical social security mechanism designed to provide financial support, medical care, rehabilitation and counselling for workers who suffer occupational injuries or diseases, as well as assistance to families of deceased employees.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Sandra Audu of PTAD commended the NSITF for its professionalism during the verification process, saying officials ensured the exercise was seamless despite her health challenges.

The presentation is widely seen as a major breakthrough in extending social protection to federal civil servants and reinforcing confidence in the Employees' Compensation Scheme as a safety net for Nigerian workers.