By Stella Odueme
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has called for improved judicial interpretation, fair adjudication and effective enforcement of the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) 2010 to ensure that Nigerian workers receive the protection and compensation guaranteed by law.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, made the call on Thursday at the opening of the Fund’s 2026 Legal Stakeholders’ Engagement in Abuja.
The two-day event, themed “Enhancing Judicial Interpretation, Adjudication and Enforcement under the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA), 2010,” brought together judicial officers, government officials, employers, organised labour and other stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening the administration of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.
Faleye said the focus of this year’s engagement was to ensure that statutory rights were translated into practical justice for workers who suffer occupational injuries, diseases, disabilities or death.
He noted that although the law provides a framework for protecting employees, its existence alone does not guarantee that affected workers would receive their entitlements.
“The existence of a law does not by itself guarantee that its promise will be fulfilled,” he said.
According to him, the effectiveness of the Employees’ Compensation Act depends on three critical stages: proper interpretation of its provisions, fair and timely resolution of disputes, and effective enforcement of judicial decisions.
He warned that weaknesses in any of these areas could undermine public confidence in the entire compensation system.
The NSITF chief executive highlighted the important role of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in interpreting the Act, resolving employment-related disputes and establishing legal principles that guide employers and employees.
He explained that workers expected justice to translate into the actual payment of their legitimate entitlements, while employers required a predictable legal environment in which their obligations were determined fairly.
Faleye reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to improving claims processing, strengthening administrative procedures, raising public awareness and promoting compliance among employers.
He, however, acknowledged that achieving these objectives required cooperation between the NSITF, the judiciary, employers, organised labour and other stakeholders.
He urged participants to use the engagement to identify practical solutions, clarify legal uncertainties, reduce avoidable disputes and develop actionable recommendations for improving the scheme.
“The value of a stakeholder engagement lies not merely in the quality of speeches delivered but in the clarity of understanding it produces and the improvements that follow,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, said the strength of a nation depended not only on the laws it enacted but also on how effectively they were interpreted and implemented.
He maintained that public confidence in institutions rested on the assurance that justice would be administered fairly, impartially and with respect for the dignity of every individual.
Recalling the famous statement by the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, Dingyadi said the justice system carried a significant responsibility to protect citizens whose other avenues for seeking redress had failed.
He stressed that such public trust required sound judgment, integrity in public service and an unwavering commitment to fairness.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment’s commitment to promoting respect for the law, responsible institutions and the public good.
He commended the NSITF management under Faleye for organising the engagement, describing it as an important national initiative to strengthen the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Act.
Dingyadi also acknowledged the contributions of the President of the National Industrial Court, judicial officers, legal practitioners and other participants to the administration of justice.
Delivering the keynote address, the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, advocated stronger institutional collaboration to improve the Employees’ Compensation Scheme and ensure that its benefits reached the intended beneficiaries.
Kanyip commended the NSITF for providing a platform for constructive engagement with the judiciary, noting that sustained cooperation would strengthen the Fund’s impact and improve service delivery under the scheme.
The meeting was attended by senior government and judicial officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, justices of the National Industrial Court, members of the Bench and Bar, employers’ associations, organised labour and development partners.
The engagement is expected to continue with technical sessions focusing on legal and evidential issues in compensation disputes, as well as challenges associated with compliance and enforcement.
The NSITF administers the Employees’ Compensation Scheme under the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010, which provides compensation to employees or their dependants in cases of work-related injury, disease, disability or death. The Fund also promotes occupational safety and health, rehabilitation of injured workers and employer compliance with the Act.