NSITF to focus on key objectives of compensation scheme

The focus of the interim management of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), will be on the mission, core values, and objectives of the Fund, and charged the staff to follow suit. 

While addressing the management and staff at the headquarters of the Fund after the team’s inauguration in Abuja, the Acting Managing Director, Dr. Kelly Nwagha, said members’ appointments were at the behest of President Muhammadu Bihari.

He emphasized that the three key objectives of the Fund will play pivotal roles in seamlessly selling the employment injury scheme, which is focussed on the prevention of workplace accidents, injuries and disabilities, rehabilitation and compensation.

He asserted that when these are appropriately applied, the outcome would ultimately improve employees’ morale and their productivity, thus culminating in a positive balance sheet of the employer, with more profits accruing to the employer. 

Nwagha added that when prevention of accidents, injuries and disease fail, the injured and infirmed are treated and restored to optimum working status (rehabilitation).
 
“By happenstance, the injured employee is not performing at the desired capacity, the Fund then pays adequate compensation to the injured employee. This concept is represented by the International Labour Organization in a triage concept of prevention, rehabilitation, and compensation in that order,” he stated.

He said the new management would modify the approach to its activities to increase the number of enrolees into the scheme, thereby increasing the financial portfolio of the Fund. 

He assured that staff welfare will be accorded the desired priority, which has always been dear to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige. 

Nwagha also called on all staff to support the new management team, saying its success would determine the level of trust the government would repose on the ability of staff to navigate the affairs of the Fund going forward. 

While stating that the new management would be prudent with funds, he appealed to the staff to feel free to proffer implementable strategies and ideas that will add to the achievements of the previous regimes, and called for constructive criticisms, with facts, and not hearsay. 

He informed that the funds the NSITF is managing are for the benefit of the employees and employers, which it holds in trust, and will not be betrayed. 

Responding, the President of ASSBIFI, NSITF Branch, Gbagbong Auta Mamfa, assured the new Management of the support of the Union, stressing that the workers would constructively criticize and engage them in the course of discharging their duties, especially on the issue of staff welfare.

He added that while the Union was ready to support the Management, it would also not hesitate to raise an alarm should there be any infractions.