Fubara Hails NSITF’s Employees’ Compensation Scheme, Pledges Rivers State’s Participation

By Chinedu Echianu

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has commended the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) for positively projecting the Tinubu administration through its Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), describing it as a “gift to Nigerian workers.”

Governor Fubara made the remark on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the NSITF Managing Director and Chief Executive, Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, and his delegation to Government House, Port Harcourt. The visit followed the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries of the ECS in the state capital.

Welcoming the team, the Governor praised the impact of the Scheme, noting that it enhances workers’ welfare and promotes the Federal Government’s social protection agenda. “The good work of NSITF through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme is projecting the Federal Government in a very positive light. In fact, it is a gift to Nigerian workers and everyone who has keyed into the Scheme,” he said.

Fubara pledged that Rivers State would prioritise subscribing to the ECS to support its workforce. He also highlighted the Scheme’s potential role in curbing corruption by reducing workers’ anxiety about their future. “Corruption is fuelled by the fear of what happens to the individual when they are no longer able to work,” he noted, adding that institutions like NSITF help provide security and hope for workers.

The Governor expressed satisfaction that the scheme is actively supporting injured and disabled workers, as well as families of deceased employees, promising that “nothing will stop us from working towards subscribing to the Scheme.”

Earlier, NSITF MD Faleye thanked the Governor for the warm reception, explaining that his mission to Rivers State was to disburse compensation cheques to private sector beneficiaries and seek the State Government’s support. He emphasised that Rivers’ adoption of the Scheme would make it a leader in the South-South region.

Faleye also appealed to the Governor to make the NSITF compliance certificate a prerequisite for doing business with the state, a proposal Fubara immediately endorsed, beginning with contractors handling the renovation of the State Secretariat.

The visit was attended by the Rivers State Head of Service and the Secretary to the State Government. The NSITF delegation included Mrs Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, Executive Director (Operations); Barrister Nkiru Ogunnaiki, GM (Claims and Compensation); and the Regional Manager of NSITF Port Harcourt.