By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund has enrolled over 7.6 million employees into the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS), recording what it described as a historic breakthrough with the inclusion of the Nigeria Police Force in the scheme.

Managing Director of the fund, Oluwaseun Faleye, disclosed this during the 2026 International Civil Service Conference held in Abuja with the theme, “Reforms, Resilience and Results.”

Faleye said the enrolment of the police followed engagements with the Inspector-General of Police, describing it as a major milestone in expanding social protection for workers.

“We have enrolled over 7.6 million employees into the Scheme. We secured the enrolment of the Nigeria Police Force into the ECS — a historic first — after engagements with the Inspector-General of Police,” he said.
According to him, the move would boost the morale and confidence of police officers, knowing that their families would be protected in the event of injury or death in the line of duty.

Speaking on the conference theme, the NSITF boss said public institutions across the world were under increasing pressure to deliver efficient services, restore public confidence and adapt to technological and economic changes.

“For us in Nigeria, the conversation around reform is no longer optional — it is urgent. The future of governance and national development depends on the ability of our institutions to evolve, innovate, and respond effectively to the needs of our citizens,” he stated.

Faleye explained that upon assuming office on July 15, 2024, he inherited an institution facing operational challenges, including slow claims processing, low public awareness and weak stakeholder confidence.

He said the management responded with deliberate reforms focused on transparency, digital transformation, expanded coverage and improved service delivery.

According to him, the NSITF partnered with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms within the agency and designated 120 staff as Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit liaison officers nationwide.

On digital transformation, Faleye said the fund was replacing fragmented paper-based systems with integrated digital platforms to enhance transparency and speed up compensation claims.

“Our goal is simple: no Nigerian worker or their family should have to endure unnecessary delays when they are entitled to compensation under the law,” he said.

The NSITF boss also disclosed that the fund embarked on aggressive campaigns to expand ECS coverage nationwide, including partnerships with state governments.
He revealed that the agency signed a landmark partnership with the Lagos State Government in April 2026 to fully implement the scheme for state workers.

Faleye added that the fund was advocating the integration of ECS compliance certificates into public procurement processes to ensure companies bidding for government contracts protect their workers.

On compensation payouts, he said the NSITF processed 22,350 claims in 2024 and recorded a 21 per cent increase in compensation payments.

He listed some of the payments to include N90 million compensation to a Seplat Energy worker, N76 million to dependants of a Nigerian Breweries employee, N31 million in medical bills for a Nestlé worker and N42.5 million to the family of a deceased Depthwize employee.

“These are not just numbers — these are families who received justice, dignity and support in their most difficult moments,” he said.

Faleye further stated that the NSITF partnered with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association and the Nigeria Labour Congress to implement the 2025 Safe Workplace Intervention Project, which audited over 200 workplaces nationwide.

He noted that the Federal Government had also mandated the Employees Compensation Scheme for all federal public workers as part of efforts to strengthen workers’ welfare and social protection in the country.