NSITF Goes Digital, Sheds Top-heavy Structure — Faleye

"The Fund is strengthening partnerships with Federal MDAs and regional organisations to expand coverage under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, particularly among workers in the informal and emerging economies." Faleye Esq 

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Oluwaseun Faleye, on Monday said the organisation had transformed from a largely manual and top-heavy institution into a more digital, efficient and accountable agency in the last two years.

Faleye stated this when the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, paid a familiarisation visit to the NSITF headquarters in Abuja.

The NSITF boss said the reforms undertaken since the current management assumed office in July 2024 had focused on digital transformation, restructuring, staff deployment, career progression and improved working conditions.

According to him, the management inherited an institution characterised by heavy reliance on manual processes, a management structure concentrated at the top, career stagnation, gaps in the deployment of human and material resources, as well as institutional processes requiring modernisation.

Quoting the late literary icon, Chinua Achebe, Faleye said, “A man who does not know where the rain began to beat him cannot say where he dried his body,” adding that the management had to confront the realities it inherited as the foundation for its reform programme.

He said one of the first steps taken was a comprehensive staff audit to provide an objective assessment of the Fund’s workforce structure and organisational requirements.

“One of the first things we did was to undertake a comprehensive staff audit and provide an objective assessment of our workforce structure and organisational needs,” he said.

Faleye disclosed that the Fund had also commenced a digital transformation programme aimed at replacing predominantly manual processes with integrated and responsive systems.

He said structural imbalances were being addressed through a Voluntary Exit Exercise designed to create a leaner and more functional organisation, with clearer responsibilities and improved opportunities for career progression.

On the working environment, the NSITF Managing Director said the Operations Directorate had been relocated to the Mukhtar El-Yakub Building, while branches nationwide were undergoing renovation.

He added that offices operating under branch-in-branch arrangements were being provided with dedicated spaces, while furniture, ICT equipment, printers and transportation facilities were being deployed progressively.

Faleye also said sustained capacity-building programmes were being implemented to improve staff competence.

The NSITF boss said the reforms were already translating into increased coverage for Nigerian workers, noting that the Fund had successfully onboarded treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies and commenced payment of claims.

He disclosed that the first batch of five beneficiaries had recently received compensation at an event witnessed by the Permanent Secretary.

“We are at an advanced stage of engagement with the Lagos State Government and Taraba State Government, while discussions with a number of other States are progressing,” Faleye said.

He added that the Fund was strengthening partnerships with Federal MDAs and regional organisations to expand coverage under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, particularly among workers in the informal and emerging economies.

Faleye said the transformation of the Fund was still a work in progress, with challenges remaining in expanding coverage of informal workers, improving compliance, strengthening data and digital integration, and enhancing claims administration.

“After two years, I believe it is fair to say that NSITF is no longer where it was when this Management assumed office. The digital transformation has begun. The organisational structure is being progressively reconfigured. The top-heavy management structure is being addressed,” he said.

Describing the Ministry of Labour and Employment as a strategic partner in strengthening Nigeria’s social protection architecture, Faleye called for increased collaboration between the ministry and the Fund to accelerate the reform process.

He said the management remained committed to building an institution that was “transformed, efficient, effective, accountable and transparent,” and which workers could trust, employers could confidently engage with and government could rely on to deliver.

Faleye also reiterated his pledge to leave the Fund better than he met it.

“I have repeatedly assured the staff of NSITF that I will leave the Fund better than I met it. That remains my commitment,” he declared.

In his response, Shoretire commended the NSITF management for what he described as bold reforms and visible improvements in the organisation.

The Permanent Secretary pledged the ministry’s continued support for efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s social security system.

He urged the Fund to collaborate with sister agencies to extend the Employees’ Compensation Scheme to workers in the informal sector.

Shoretire also stressed the need for the NSITF to intensify preventive workplace safety programmes, saying prevention should remain an important component of protecting workers.

He further commended the Fund for its support to the ministry and called for greater cooperation between the NSITF management and its governing board to ensure the smooth running of the organisation.