From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has observed that in West Africa, social security remains the thin line between stability and despair, reassuring of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that every Nigerian worker is protected from sudden economic ruin, workplace injuries, and is able to live a dignified life after retirement.
According to him, since assuming office in 2023, his administration has driven its Renewed Hope Agenda with a clear objective: to restore opportunity, protect livelihoods, and rebuild confidence in the economy.
He said that through the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), the government has significantly strengthened workplace injury protection.
“Today, over 7.5 million Nigerian employees are covered under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, ensuring that when workplace accidents or disabilities occur, families are protected from sudden economic ruin.
“Every compensation payment sends a clear message: those who serve this nation will not be abandoned,” he said.
The President spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the two-day ISSA 2026 West Africa Seminar with the theme: “Improving Inclusiveness and Accessibility of Social Security Services through Effective Communication in West Africa.”
The seminar brought together stakeholders from across West Africa to discuss strategies for improving the inclusiveness and accessibility of social security systems in the region.
He noted that through the National Health Insurance Authority, access to affordable healthcare continues to expand, with over 16 million Nigerians now enrolled in health insurance programmes, reducing catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenses and improving access for vulnerable populations.
Under the oversight of the National Pension Commission, he also stated that over 10 million Nigerian workers are actively contributing to the Contributory Pension Scheme, with pension assets now exceeding ₦25 trillion.
President Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, explained that over the years, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has empowered more than two million Nigerians through vocational training, entrepreneurship development, and job creation initiatives, equipping young people with skills not only to earn a living but to build sustainable futures.
He added that since meaningful employment remains the greatest form of social security, the NDE continues to expand opportunities for the youth.
The President also pointed out that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, through its social intervention programmes, has continued to support vulnerable households with conditional cash transfers, food security initiatives, and livelihood support designed to cushion economic shocks.
Highlighting further achievements of his administration in ensuring social protection for workers, Tinubu said programmes such as N-Power have provided skills development and employment opportunities to hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians, improving employability and supporting service delivery across education, agriculture, and community development sectors.
He noted that in the housing sector, reforms under the National Housing Fund and the Renewed Hope Housing Programme are expanding access to affordable housing finance and promoting home ownership for low- and middle-income Nigerians, recognising that shelter remains a critical dimension of social security and family stability.
“Our objective is clear: to move toward an integrated and digitally enabled social protection system, where pensions, healthcare, employment support, social assistance, housing, and compensation programmes operate not in isolation but as coordinated guarantees of social and economic security,” he stated.
On the plight of workers in the sub-region, the President observed that West Africa stands at a historic crossroads.
“We are one of the youngest regions in the world, blessed with extraordinary human energy, entrepreneurial drive, and demographic promise.
“Yet, we are also a region where vulnerability remains a daily reality for millions—vulnerability to economic transitions, health shocks, workplace accidents, unemployment, and the quiet insecurity that follows uncertainty,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the seminar, Tinubu declared that communication is central to effective governance.
“Communication is not public relations. It is the bridge between government and citizens. It is the architecture of trust.
“If we are to communicate social security effectively in West Africa, we cannot rely solely on technical circulars. Our people communicate through community, culture, conversation, and shared experience,” he said, urging governments across the sub-region to strengthen worker protection systems amid rising economic and social vulnerabilities.
“West Africa must move beyond copying global models. Long before the gig economy became a global buzzword, our informal sector was already thriving through innovation and resilience. Our communication strategies must reflect our realities,” he added.
He expressed confidence that the seminar would provide a platform for learning and collaboration, as well as strengthen the social contract between governments and citizens.
He advised participants to speak honestly, share ideas, and develop policies that would strengthen social security across the region.
“The ISSA provides an invaluable platform for shared learning and collaboration. This seminar is not merely about messaging techniques; it is about strengthening the social contract between governments and citizens,” he added.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, assured that the Federal Government, through his ministry, remains committed to its constitutional mandate of formulating and implementing policies that safeguard the welfare of Nigerian workers.
According to the Minister, priority attention has been given to the supervision of key institutions, particularly the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
He said: “Established under the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) 2010, the NSITF serves as a critical vehicle for delivering social security to workers by providing compensation for workplace injuries, disabilities, and death.
“Through effective oversight, we ensure that the Fund remains aligned with international best practices, including those championed by the ISSA, while fulfilling its statutory responsibility of protecting the workforce. Our commitment is to continue strengthening this institution so that no worker is left vulnerable in the face of occupational risks.”
Dingyadi also observed that the two-day seminar would provide a valuable opportunity to benchmark systems against global standards, exchange knowledge, and deepen cross-border collaboration.
He encouraged participants to engage openly, share experiences, and build partnerships to strengthen social security not only in Nigeria and West Africa but globally.
“The theme reminds us that social security is not merely a safety net but a fundamental pillar for social justice, industrial harmony, and sustainable economic growth,” he said.
In his address, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NSITF, Barr. Oluwaseun Falaye, called for stronger, more inclusive, and digitally driven social security systems across West Africa.
Falaye emphasised the urgent need for the region to modernise its institutions to remain relevant, build public trust, and respond effectively to the changing world of work.
He noted that social security systems are under increasing pressure from demographic shifts, economic uncertainty, and widespread informality.
According to him, “institutions must go beyond adopting technology and instead deploy innovation to strengthen governance, expand coverage, and uphold human dignity.”
He described the gathering as a platform for “intense regional reflection” and practical problem-solving, recalling that Nigeria was chosen to host the 2026 session following deliberations at the 2025 ISSA regional meeting in Conakry, Guinea.
He added that member institutions had identified shared challenges such as coverage gaps, financing pressures, and the rapid transformation of labour markets.
Falaye stressed that Nigeria’s large youth population and expansive informal sector make the need for responsive social protection systems more urgent.
He reiterated the Fund’s mandate under the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010 to provide protection against workplace injuries, occupational diseases, disabilities, and death.
The NSITF boss further explained that the Fund has begun transitioning from manual, paper-based operations to integrated digital systems aimed at improving claims processing, data management, and transparency.
He added that this digital transformation requires sustained investment in skills, governance, and cybersecurity.
