Bauchi begins enrolment of workers on compensation scheme

The Bauchi State government has indicated its readiness to enroll its workers on the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

To this end, the governor of the state, Mohammed Abubakar, has directed the Secretary to the Government to perfect the modalities for immediate compliance with the Scheme.

The governor gave the directive during a courtesy call by the management of NSITF led by its Acting Managing Director, Ismail Agaka, in Abuja.

Abubakar described Bauchi State as a workers’ friendly state, and expressed the state government’s readiness to collaborate with NSITF to ensure the interest of the entire workforce of the state is adequately protected.

“Despite the economic recession in Nigeria and the inability of many state governments to pay salaries, Bauchi State comparatively lives up to expectation in this regard. This is a proof that the state has the interest of its workforce at heart,” he added.

The governor stated that the modalities that will define compliance with contributory schemes such as the ECS have been formalised by the state House of Assembly.

He explained: “A bill had been submitted to the Bauchi State Assembly to define a formal structure for compliance with contributory schemes like the ECS and this has been passed already and handed down. We are however putting some finishing touches to it and very soon, it will become a law.”

In his remarks, the Acting Managing Director Fund, Ismail Agaka, noted that the Scheme was established by an Act of Parliament, making it a compulsory requirement of the law for every employer of labour in Nigeria to key into the Scheme.

He commended the Governor and the people of Bauchi state for emerging the second state in Nigeria to register its work force on the ECS.

Agaka explained that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme is a social insurance Scheme designed to provide compensation to employees who suffer from occupational diseases or sustain  injuries from accident at workplace or in the course of employment, whether at usual workplace or outside of it.

The NSITF boss explained: “Every employee whether casual or full-time staff is exposed to a measure of risk. The ECS, a no-fault scheme, has been designed to provide speedy and adequate compensation, devoid of unnecessary disputes in the best interest of employees.”