NSITF seeks Lagos support for enhanced worker protection

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund has urged the Lagos State Government to take the lead in compliance with the fund’s scheme for due compensation of workers in situations of hazards.

The newly appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, on Wednesday, sought the state government’s support during a courtesy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Ikeja, the state capital.

Faleye said the agency’s management was in the state on a two-day retreat to discuss how to collaborate with lawmakers to achieve its objectives.

Faleye who was accompanied by the Chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator Diket Plang and Adegboyega Adefarati, respectively, along with other federal lawmakers said the role of Lagos was significant to boost compliance by states to due compensation for workers

He told Sanwo-Olu that the agency needs the support of the state government to comply with the laws guiding employee and employer relationships, saying a lead by Lagos would serve as a model for compliance among other states.

“We are here on a two-day retreat on how we can collaborate with lawmakers so they can better understand what we do and use their legislative influence to help us achieve our aims.

“NSITF was designed to formulate the employer scheme where we provide cash and non-cash support to injured or deceased workers arising from hazards from their work activities.

“We have been doing it robustly since 2012, and we want to continue doing it. We know Lagos State can give us critical support in what we are doing,” Faleye said.

Seeking the support of the state government, he added, “We call for your support in making the NSITF Requirement Certificate an integral part of your subcontractual document with third parties. The importance that it gives to workers and employees generally will also contribute to the progress of the state.

“Whenever workers are sick, the compensatory package gives succour to the employers and employees. We seek your support to ensure that Lagos State is in compliance with the law on compensation. The Act applies to both the private and public sectors, including the government. The acceptance of the scheme by Lagos State will send a strong signal for other states to follow.”

Responding, Sanwo-Olu charged the agency on transparency and accountability, as well as rendering quality service for the benefit of the people.

He said that though the state government had a robust insurance package in place for the Lagos workforce, he assured his administration’s willingness to harness the areas of collaboration with the NSITF to achieve its objectives as well as explore the benefits of the fund for workers and Lagosians.

On his part, Plang said lawmakers were committed to ensuring employers are protected when at work in case of hazards.

“As legislators, the NSITF is a product of the parliaments, and we have to find out how some MDAs are performing. Where there is a need to make changes, we make them to increase productivity.

“As legislators, we have the responsibility to ensure that these constitutional responsibilities of the employees and employers are adhered to for the benefit of Nigerians as well as foster synergy between the legislative and executive arms of government,” he said.