By Stella Odueme
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, has urged government agencies to strengthen collaboration to improve workers' welfare, enhance productivity and expand social security protection.
Faleye made the call on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at the Technical Retreat on Presidential Priority, Ministerial Deliverables and Performance Management System (PMS), organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
He commended the ministry for bringing relevant agencies together to discuss shared responsibilities, noting that effective public service delivery requires coordination and cooperation among institutions.
According to him, the retreat provides an important opportunity for dialogue, knowledge sharing and the development of practical strategies to improve institutional performance.
"I commend the Ministry for providing this platform for dialogue, coordination and the exchange of ideas. Such engagements are important because the effectiveness of public service delivery depends not only on the performance of individual institutions, but also on how well we work together,” he said.
Faleye, who was represented at the meeting by his Technical Assistant, Dayo Aloa, said the ministry and the NSITF shared the responsibility of strengthening public institutions, delivering value and improving the welfare and security of Nigerians.
Explaining the Fund's mandate, he said the NSITF administers the Employees' Compensation Scheme (ECS), established under the Employees' Compensation Act 2010, to provide compensation and support to employees and their dependants affected by work-related injuries, occupational diseases, disabilities or death.
He emphasised that the scheme serves as a safety net for workers and their families when workplace incidents threaten their livelihoods.
"At the heart of this mandate is a simple but important principle: no worker or family should be left without support when a qualifying workplace incident disrupts their livelihood and future," he said.
The NSITF chief executive noted that workers' welfare was closely linked to national productivity, industrial harmony and sustainable economic growth, stressing that employees who feel protected are better positioned to contribute effectively to their organisations.
He explained that the Fund's responsibilities extended beyond processing claims and paying compensation to include engaging employers and employees, raising awareness about the scheme, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and promoting workplace health and safety.
Faleye stressed the need to make the Employees' Compensation Scheme more accessible, transparent and responsive to the needs of eligible beneficiaries.
He also called for stronger cooperation among government institutions, noting that no single agency could independently address all the challenges relating to workers' welfare, employment protection, occupational safety and social security.
According to him, improved collaboration would help reduce duplication of efforts, encourage knowledge sharing and promote coordinated responses to challenges confronting workers and employers.
"I therefore see this meeting as an opportunity to deepen our working relationships, identify practical areas of collaboration and strengthen the alignment between our respective programmes and priorities," he said.
Looking ahead to 2027, Faleye reaffirmed the Fund's commitment to strengthening the implementation of the Employees' Compensation Scheme, improving service delivery, encouraging employer compliance and advancing workplace safety.
He urged participating agencies to focus on measurable outcomes rather than activities alone, noting that the ultimate objective of public service was to deliver tangible improvements to citizens.
"As we deliberate on our institutional responsibilities and targets, we should remain mindful that the ultimate measure of our success is not merely the activities we undertake, but the tangible improvements our work delivers to the people we serve," he said.
Faleye expressed appreciation to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and other participating agencies for their contributions to improving public service delivery.
He expressed optimism that the retreat would produce meaningful outcomes towards building a more productive, secure and welfare-oriented working environment in Nigeria.