The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has announced plans to collaborate with the National Assembly to strengthen laws governing occupational health and safety enforcement across workplaces in the country.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, NSITF Managing Director, Oluwaseun Faleye, highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure the agency fully executes its mandate.
He emphasised that a well-trained workforce is crucial for national productivity and rapid industrialisation. Faleye made this point while receiving the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Adamson Olawatosin Ayide, at NSITF’s corporate headquarters.
“A trained workforce is the foundation for economic growth and sustainability,” Faleye stated. “Skill development empowers individuals to earn a decent living and contributes to national progress.”
On workplace safety, Faleye acknowledged challenges in enforcing compliance. “During inspections, some companies deny our officers access to their premises, making enforcement difficult. We are engaging with lawmakers to grant us authority to seal off non-compliant businesses that endanger workers’ lives.”
Addressing concerns over low enrolment in the NSITF scheme, Faleye attributed the problem to widespread ignorance and lack of awareness. He assured that efforts were being intensified to educate businesses and employees about the benefits of social security coverage.
Regarding NSITF’s digitalisation drive, he revealed that the project had yet to take off as expected. To address this, the agency has engaged KPMG to evaluate the implementation status and ensure adherence to the original contract terms.
Ayide, in his remarks, underscored the importance of industrial training for economic sustainability. “In today’s evolving economy, skills development is not optional but essential for national progress,” he stated. “We seek strategic collaboration with NSITF to enhance skill acquisition across industries.”
Faleye reaffirmed NSITF’s commitment to supporting workers and employers through safety enforcement and manpower development. “Economic progress is a collective responsibility,” he said. “NSITF is ready to dedicate resources to the upcoming National Industrial Manpower Summit to drive these goals forward.”
