The presentation made at the just-concluded 65th annual NBA Conference in Enugu by the Managing Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, enlightened Nigerian lawyers on the functionality of the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).
The Chairman of the NBA Gwagwalada Branch, Owhor Clever, stated this when he led his team on a courtesy visit to the managing director of the Fund in Abuja.
This comes as Faleye has been honoured with the Corporate Health and Safety Environment (HSE) Leadership Award.
Clever said: “The NSITF outing at our 65th annual conference in Enugu was an eye opener for many lawyers in Nigeria on the functions of the Fund and ECA. The NSITF team at the conference deserves commendations for their brilliant presentations”.
He, however, lamented that many workers had been left destitute due to workplace injuries, due to a lack of awareness.
Responding, the Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, called on lawyers in Nigeria to lend their influence with clients to advocate for compliance with the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010.
Faleye, who was represented by the Executive Director of Administration, Samaila Abdu, said lawyers have a duty to advise clients as to how they can key into the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.
Coming on the heels of the just-concluded 65th Annual Conference of the NBA in Enugu, the visit aimed at forging partnerships with the Fund on mutual areas of interest.
The MD revealed the Fund’s plan to embark on visits to NBA branches to further raise awareness on the benefits of the ECS and the need for compliance.
He promised that the Fund would collaborate with the Gwagwalada branch of the NBA on training, sensitisation and other areas that could further enhance each organisation’s goals and objectives.
He said: “The Employees’ Compensation Act 2010 emerged as a legal reform and moral commitment to take care of workplace injuries for those who have keyed into the scheme.”
Recall that the NSITF boss presented a lead paper, ‘Enhancing Workplace Safety and Social Protection: The Role of Employees’ Compensation Act 2010’ at the VI Breakout Session of the NBA Conference in Enugu.
In the meantime, the award, ‘Corporate Health and Safety Environment (HSE) Leadership Award’ conferred on Faleye was in recognition of the NSITF’s managing director’s unwavering support for Health, Safety and Environment initiatives across Nigerian workplaces.
The award was presented by the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) during the Abuja Safety Summit held in Abuja.
The occasion was witnessed by numerous stakeholders in the field of workplace safety, including the National President of ISPON, Dr Stephen Udeze and the Institute’s Registrar.
Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of ISPON, Mrs. Ifeoma Okpara, commended Faleye for his visionary leadership and open endorsement of HSE programmes as key drivers of productivity, describing him as “the most supportive Managing Director.”
The Managing Director, who was represented by his Technical Adviser and General Manager, Managing Director’s office, Dr Dayo Alao, expressed delight over the award.
He said the award serves as motivation to do more, as he reiterated continual support for and commitment to the promotion of workplace safety and health in Nigeria.
