By Henry Ojelu, LAGOS

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, has reiterated the Fund’s unwavering commitment to protecting Nigerian workers through timely compensation and sustainable social protection initiatives.

Speaking at the ongoing 2025 Lagos International Trade Fair yesterday, Faleye, who noted that the Fund has paid out over N1.5billion in compensation, declared that the NSITF remains “the bridge between hardship and healing” for workers who suffer accidents, injuries, or death in the course of their employment.

The NSITF boss who was represented at the event by Mrs. Nkiru Ede Ogunnaike, described the Fund’s guiding principle as “strength in support,” stressing that benefits compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) is not charity but a matter of justice, empowerment, and nation-building.

“At NSITF, benefits compensation is not just a policy, it is a promise — a promise that no worker will be left behind when life takes an unexpected turn,” Faleye stated.

Highlighting recent achievements, Faleye revealed that the Fund has disbursed hundreds of millions of naira in compensation to affected workers and dependents across several sectors.

He said: “Among the beneficiaries are employees of major firms such as Depthwize Oil and Gas, Nigerian Breweries, Shell Exploration, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Indigo Drilling, Zenith Bank, and Nestlé Nigeria Plc.

“For instance, NSITF paid ₦42.4 million and continues to remit a monthly ₦2 million to dependents of a deceased Depthwize employee. Nigerian Breweries’ beneficiary family has received ₦76 million so far, while the Fund is also paying ₦1.3 million monthly to the family of a late Shell employee until 2034.

“Similarly, the Fund has disbursed ₦93.8 million to Mobil Producing Nigeria Plc beneficiaries and ₦320.4 million to families and disabled staff of Indigo Drilling. Employees of the Nigeria Customs Service have collectively received ₦484.2 million, while the National Assembly and other organisations have also benefited from the scheme,”

Faleye emphasized that these interventions are possible through the tripartite collaboration among the government, employers, and employees, which forms the foundation of a resilient social protection system.

“When these three pillars work in harmony, they create a reliable safety net delivered through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme,” he noted.

He urged all stakeholders to deepen compliance, compassion, and accountability in ensuring every Nigerian worker enjoys the protection of the scheme.

“A society that protects its workers is a society that prospers. Let us be that society. Let us be that strength,” he concluded.