Workplace Safety, Social Protection Fundamental Pillars of Social Justice – NSITF Boss

By Chinedu Echianu

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Olúwaṣeun Faleye, has emphasized that workplace safety and social protection are not privileges but fundamental pillars of social justice, human dignity, and economic sustainability.

Faleye made the assertion on Tuesday in Enugu while delivering the lead paper at Breakout Session VI of the ongoing Annual Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference. His presentation was titled: Enhancing Workplace Safety and Social Protection: The Role of the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010.

“Workplace safety and social protection are not optional luxuries, they are fundamental pillars of social justice, human dignity and economic sustainability,” he stated.

Faleye explained that these protections provide workers with dignity, peace of mind, and the assurance that their labour will not turn into tragedy for their families. He further noted that robust workplace safety systems help reduce pressure on healthcare, mitigate poverty, and boost national competitiveness.

Tying the subject to human rights, the NSITF boss stressed that, “They are as much about human rights as they are about economic development. A nation that fails to protect its workers fails to protect its future.”

Reflecting on policy reforms, Faleye described the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) 2010 as a landmark in Nigeria’s social protection framework. Unlike its predecessor, the Workmen’s Compensation Act, he said, the ECA is more expansive, inclusive, and aligned with global best practices. According to him, the Act eliminates protracted legal battles, creates a contributory pool to ease financial burdens, and helps address poverty traps triggered by workplace disabilities or deaths.

Faleye also commended the NBA, describing it as “the conscience of the nation, a defender of rights, a champion of justice, and a custodian of democratic ideals that give meaning to our collective existence.”

In the same session, the General Manager, Compliance, NSITF, Abdul-Lateef Musa, presented a paper titled Institutional Barriers to Effective Enforcement: The Role of Compliance Employees’ Rights and Strategies for Bridging Gaps between Policies and Workplace Practice. He emphasized that effective compliance with the ECA 2010 remains the backbone of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme and a catalyst for justice in the workplace.