By Chinedu Echianu
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has called for stronger judicial interpretation, adjudication and enforcement of the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) 2010 to ensure that workers fully enjoy the protection and benefits guaranteed by the law.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, made the call on Thursday at the opening of the Fund’s 2026 Legal Stakeholders’ Engagement in Abuja.
Faleye said the existence of a legal framework for compensating workers for work-related injuries, diseases, disabilities and deaths does not automatically guarantee that affected employees receive justice.
He stressed that the effectiveness of the Act depends on how its provisions are interpreted, how disputes are adjudicated and how court decisions and lawful orders are enforced.
According to him, weaknesses at any of these stages could undermine confidence in the Employees’ Compensation Scheme and deny workers the protection intended by the law.
“The existence of a law does not by itself guarantee that its promise will be fulfilled,” Faleye said.
The NSITF chief executive underscored the importance of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), noting that its interpretation of the Act has far-reaching implications for workers, employers and the administration of the compensation scheme.
He explained that while workers expect the practical realisation of their entitlements, employers also require a predictable legal environment in which their obligations are determined fairly.
Faleye assured that the Fund would continue to strengthen its administrative processes, improve claims handling, promote awareness and encourage employer compliance, but acknowledged that achieving these objectives requires collaboration with the judiciary and other stakeholders.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, said public confidence in the justice system depends on the fair and impartial application of the law and the integrity of institutions responsible for its administration.
Recalling the famous observation by the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, Dingyadi said the justice system represents the final recourse for many citizens when other avenues of seeking redress have failed.
