The sum of N267 million has been disbursed by Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) under the Employees Compensation Act, ECA, in the last four years.
Speaking on the performance of the programme at the 58th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) in Lagos , Managing Director of NSITF, Alhaji Umar Munir, said that the amount disbursed so far covered 2,800 employees, who have suffered one degree of injury or the other in the line of duty.
Represented by Mr. Ismail Agaka, General Manager, Lagos Corporate office, Munir said “It is a scheme that is still growing, but not without its own challenges as the acceptance from the employers is still very low. We have those who are not contributing, and those that registered for the scheme and still refused to contribute.”
He noted that the compliance among the public sector was nothing to write home about, while that of the private sector was below average, but he reasoned that it was growing when compared to the initial years. According to him, “We are working on the employers through NECA and the organised labour. It is a scheme for the future, in Nigeria, social protection scheme is still growing and we believe that it is sustainable.”
Agaka said part of encouraging employers to join the scheme, was the annual reward given to the companies that have credible compliance status, the programme which was jointly managed by NSITF and NECA. At the event, seven ambulances and other safety equipments were distributed to companies who were adjudged to have fulfilled safety measures as set out by the two organisations.
