From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, has described the ongoing 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, as a vital platform for deepening global engagement on workplace safety, workers’ welfare, and social security.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, Faleye said the conference has provided an opportunity for Nigeria to share its efforts and strategies for improving occupational health and safety, while also strengthening partnerships with the International Labour Organization and other stakeholders.
“This sort of platform is great for advocating several issues that relate to the workplace — from workers’ safety in various forms to the enhancement of their welfare,” Faleye said.
“It has helped us share ideas, deepen our capacity, and foster stronger collaboration with the ILO and sister organizations. For me and my colleagues, it has truly been a veritable platform for engagement.”
The NSITF boss revealed that the agency is currently carrying out Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) audits across workplaces in Nigeria, in line with global best practices and ILO conventions.
He explained that the audits are aimed at ensuring safe and conducive environments for workers, while also preparing employers and employees to reduce workplace risks.
“We are at the forefront of promoting decent work, which ties directly into our core mandate under the Health and Safety Environment (HSE),” Faleye said.
“This is why we actively collaborate with employers to deepen awareness around health and safety. Our presence at the ILC helps us to broaden our knowledge and adopt cutting-edge standards that we can take back home to improve our domestic framework.”
He stressed that a safe workplace not only prevents injuries but also reduces the rate of employee compensation claims, improving overall productivity and welfare.
“When we enhance HSE components in the workplace, incidents and injuries tend to drop. We are committed to our mandate of promptly paying compensation to injured workers and will continue to uphold that responsibility,” he added.
Faleye also disclosed that the Fund is engaging the Federal Government to fully operationalize the Employees’ Compensation Scheme across the public service.
“The law is in place. The Federal Government is ready, but implementation has been the key challenge. We are working closely with the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to ensure full operationalization of the scheme,” he said.
According to him, workplaces enrolled under the compensation scheme are routinely audited and sensitised on how to maintain safety standards.
“If you are subscribed to the scheme, it’s our duty to audit your workplace periodically, give safety tips, and build awareness within your organization. We remain committed to driving that initiative across Nigeria’s employer ecosystem,” he said.
Faleye further revealed that the Fund is scaling up integration of the informal sector into the compensation scheme, citing encouraging responses from artisans, traders, and other small-scale workers.
“The informal sector holds enormous potential. The response has been fantastic — once people understand the benefits of the scheme, they engage enthusiastically,” he said.
“Advocacy remains central to our work, and we will continue to push for greater inclusion and protection for every Nigerian worker, formal or informal.”
