By Chinedu Echianu
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has proposed a partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to promote workers’ welfare, workplace safety and social protection among small businesses.
The NSITF Managing Director, Oluwaseun Faleye, made the proposal on Monday at the Grow Nigerian Conference 2026 in Lagos. He said the collaboration would integrate awareness of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) and occupational safety into SMEDAN’s business development and entrepreneurship programmes.
Faleye suggested joint awareness campaigns, safety training, engagement with business associations and easier access to registration and compliance support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
He said sustainable businesses must protect the workers whose skills and commitment drive their growth, adding that economic success should not come at the expense of employees’ safety, dignity and wellbeing.
The NSITF chief executive explained that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, established under the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010, provides compensation, medical support, rehabilitation and income replacement for workers who suffer work-related injuries, diseases, disability or death.
He also clarified that the scheme is funded through employers’ contributions of one per cent of their total monthly payroll, not deductions from workers’ salaries.
The three-day conference, organised by SMEDAN, was themed “The Next Frontier for Innovation, Policy and Market Access” and brought together government representatives, development partners, industry leaders and entrepreneurs.
