The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to worker protection through the strengthening of the Employee Compensation Scheme (ECS). This was emphasized by the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, during the 2025 NSITF Legislative Retreat held in Lagos.
The retreat, themed “Building a Sustainable Future: Strengthening Social Security & Enhancing Labour Productivity in Nigeria”, brought together top government officials, including members of the National Assembly, to chart a way forward in securing better protections for Nigerian workers.
Dingyadi, speaking at the event, emphasized the need for a robust and inclusive social security system that protects workers from income loss due to workplace hazards, disability, unemployment, or old age.
“Nigeria must strive to build a social protection framework that doesn’t just respond to accidents but anticipates risks. We must prioritize reforms that ensure the Employee Compensation Scheme becomes a safety net for all categories of workers,” the minister stated.
He noted that traditional compensation methods have proven inadequate, particularly in cases of temporary or permanent disabilities, or death, and called for enhanced implementation of the ECS.
The Employee Compensation Scheme, created under the Employee Compensation Act of 2010, mandates all employers to register their workers at no cost to employees. The scheme provides fair compensation for job-related injuries, diseases, disabilities, or fatalities. In such instances, dependents of deceased employees are also entitled to benefits.
Dingyadi praised the Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Oluwaseun Mayomi Faleye, for reinvigorating the Fund and driving reforms aimed at expanding ECS coverage to every Nigerian worker—whether in public or private employment.
Faleye, in his remarks, disclosed that the Fund is now working toward enforcing ECS compliance across state and local government levels, ensuring that no Nigerian worker is left behind.
“We must intensify enforcement, not just at the federal level, but across all tiers of government. Compliance with the ECS is non-negotiable,” Faleye said.
He further advocated for legislative amendments to include National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and interns under the ECS, describing it as a necessary evolution of the law in light of growing youth unemployment and the need for national inclusiveness.
Between June and July 2025, the NSITF paid ₦172.5 million in compensation to seven beneficiaries under the ECS, with a reported 151% rise in employee enrolment. Additionally, the number of SMEs enrolled increased from 1,665 to 2,279, signaling wider adoption of the scheme.
Chairman of the NSITF Board, Hon. Olushola Olofin, said the retreat was vital for strengthening collaboration with legislators and fine-tuning policy and operational frameworks to align with global best practices in social security.
“This platform enables us to reflect on our wins, identify gaps, and adopt actionable strategies that will elevate the ECS to a globally respected model,” Olofin added.
Also present at the retreat were Chairman of the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator Diket Satso Plang; Chairman, House Committee on Labour, Hon. Adegboyega Adefarati; and other stakeholders from both public and private sectors.
The event concluded with a shared resolve to make the ECS more transparent, responsive, and far-reaching—reinforcing the importance of labour as the backbone of Nigeria’s economic resilience.