The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has unveiled a tailored social protection model aimed at extending coverage to more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce employed in the informal sector.
Managing Director of the Fund, Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye, announced the initiative on Sunday in Abuja, describing it as part of efforts to ensure that every Nigerian worker—formal or informal—benefits from social protection under the Fund’s mandate.
He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure that no worker is left behind. “The informal sector represents about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce and productivity. Providing social protection for them means strengthening the resilience of our national workforce, which is a key priority for us,” he said.
According to Mr. Faleye, the NSITF is developing customised models to suit the realities of the informal economy, which operates differently from the formal sector. “In the formal sector, employers automatically remit to the Fund, but for informal workers such as artisans, small business owners, and commercial motorcyclists, the process requires a different approach,” he explained.
He said the Fund has adopted an association-led strategy, engaging organised groups within the informal economy. “Many of these workers already operate through associations, so we are partnering with their leaders and with agencies like SMEDAN and N-SEME to understand their businesses and design suitable support models,” he added.
Mr. Faleye noted that the NSITF has begun sensitisation campaigns nationwide to raise awareness about the benefits of social protection. “We have visited Nnewi in Anambra, known as the ‘Japan of Africa’, as well as Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos. The response has been encouraging, and we plan to expand to other regions,” he said.
He revealed that several associations have already started adopting the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), which guarantees compensation for workers injured or killed in the course of duty. “If you are injured at work, you are entitled to compensation and rehabilitation. Dependants of deceased workers also receive support,” he said.
He added that the Fund provides prosthetics, physiotherapy, vocational training, and other forms of rehabilitation to help affected workers reintegrate into new roles. “These services reflect the core mandate of the NSITF under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme,” he said.
Mr. Faleye stressed that accountability and transparency remain central to the Fund’s operations, adding that its work is anchored on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Social Protection and Safe Working Environments, which upholds the dignity of labour.
