By Joan Nwagwu
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has transformed its operations through digitalisation, restructuring and improved accountability, says its Managing Director, Oluwaseun Faleye.
Faleye made this known on Monday when he received the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, in Abuja.
Shoretire was at the NSITF headquarters on a familiarisation visit to assess the Fund’s operations and ongoing reforms.
Faleye said the management inherited heavy reliance on manual processes, a top-heavy structure, career stagnation and gaps in resource deployment.
He said the challenges prompted reforms, including a comprehensive staff audit, digital transformation and a Voluntary Exit Exercise.
“One of the first things we did was to undertake a comprehensive staff audit and provide an objective assessment of our workforce structure and organisational needs,” he said.
Faleye said the Operations Directorate had been relocated to the Mukhtar El-Yakub Building as part of efforts to improve efficiency.
He added that branches nationwide were being renovated and equipped with furniture, information and communication technology facilities, printers and transportation capacity.
According to him, the reforms have also expanded coverage for Nigerian workers through the onboarding of treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
He said the Fund had commenced payments under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), with five beneficiaries recently receiving compensation.
“We are at an advanced stage of engagement with the Lagos State Government and Taraba State Government, while discussions with a number of other states are progressing,” he said.
Faleye said partnerships with Federal Government agencies and regional organisations were also being strengthened to deepen ECS coverage.
He said the partnerships would particularly target workers in the informal and emerging economies.
“After two years, I believe it is fair to say that NSITF is no longer where it was when this management assumed office. The digital transformation has begun,” Faleye said.
He acknowledged that more work was required to expand informal-sector coverage, strengthen compliance and improve data integration.
Faleye also identified enhanced claims administration as another priority for the Fund’s ongoing reforms.
He described the Labour Ministry as a strategic partner in strengthening Nigeria’s social protection architecture.
He called for stronger collaboration to accelerate reforms and improve the Fund’s effectiveness.
“Our commitment is to continue to leave no stone unturned in building an NSITF that is transformed, efficient, effective, accountable and transparent,” he said.
Faleye said he remained committed to leaving the Fund in a better position than he found it.
“I have repeatedly assured the staff of NSITF that I will leave the Fund better than I met it. That remains my commitment,” he added.
Responding, Shoretire commended the NSITF management for its reforms and called for greater collaboration with sister agencies.
He urged the Fund to extend ECS coverage to workers in the informal sector and strengthen Nigeria’s social protection system.
Shoretire also urged NSITF to prioritise preventive workplace safety programmes to reduce occupational risks.
He called for stronger cooperation between the Fund’s management and governing board to ensure smooth operations.