By Victor Ahiuma-Young

*Empowers 57 beneficiaries with start-up kits, work tools

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, has given a fresh start to 57 beneficiaries of its Employees’ Compensation Scheme, ECS, through the provision of start-up kits and work tools to aid their economic independence.

Presenting the empowerment items at the Fund’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, the Managing Director of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to the improved welfare of Nigerian workers. 

He said the gesture was in line with the agency’s statutory responsibility of ensuring rehabilitation and reintegration of employees who suffer workplace injuries or disabilities.

Faleye, represented by the General Manager, Claims and Compensation, Mrs. Nkiru Ede-Ogunnaike, explained that vocational rehabilitation remains a key component of the Employees’ Compensation Act, ECA, 2010.

According to her, “Vocational rehabilitation, which encompasses reorientation, vocational training and empowerment of disabled workers, is a core statutory mandate of NSITF as enshrined in the Employees’ Compensation Act. Through this process, injured employees are equipped to regain economic self-reliance and live dignified lives.”

Among the recent beneficiaries were Philip Anjor Terwase, Daniel Onah Imale, and Nanbur Ezekiel, who were trained in furniture making, automobile diagnosis, and POS operation respectively.

They expressed gratitude to the Fund for giving them what they described as “a new lease of life,” enabling them to fend for themselves rather than depend on others for survival.

Under the ECS, employers of labour contribute one percent of their employees’ salaries as premium, while the NSITF provides compensation, medical care, rehabilitation, and support to workers in cases of job-related injuries, disabilities, diseases, or death.

Faleye reiterated that the Fund would continue to strengthen the scheme to deliver on its mandate of social security and protection for Nigerian workers.