...Trains MDAs relations officers
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| Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye and Mrs Oyagbola at the workshop |
Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), has assured Lagos State Government of its willingness to provide all the required technical and operational expertise for the seamless implementation of the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) in the state.
Managing Director/CE, Barrister Oluwaseun Falaye, gave the assurance at a sensitisation workshop for Employee Relations Officers for Lagos State MDAs on Wednesday in Lagos.
“Let me also assure you that the NSITF remains fully committed to supporting this process. We bring not only the legal and institutional mandate, but also the technical expertise, operational experience, and systems required to ensure effective and seamless implementation. More importantly, we will continue to work closely with all MDAs, providing guidance and support at every stage of this process," Faleye said in his address to participants.
“This programme has been carefully designed to provide you with practical knowledge and actionable insights. Experienced resource persons will take you through the key aspects of the Scheme, including its benefits, compliance requirements, payroll processes, schedules of payment, and the critical role you will play in ensuring its success," he stated.
The MD explained that the theme of the programme, 'The Role of the Employee Relations Officer in Ensuring Effective Implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme,' speaks directly to that objective.
Stressing the importance of human capital in policy implementation, Barrister Faleye said, the theme “recognizes that while policies provide structure, it is people who give them life. Your role, therefore, is not secondary; it is central to the success of this initiative."
“The Employees’ Compensation Scheme, administered by the NSITF under the Employees’ Compensation Act of 2010, is far more than a regulatory requirement. It is a comprehensive system designed to protect workers against workplace accidents, occupational diseases, injuries, disabilities, and even death arising in the course of employment. It provides structured support through medical care, rehabilitation services, compensation for temporary or permanent disability, and financial protection for dependents in the unfortunate event of loss of life.
"At its core, the Scheme represents a commitment—a commitment that when the unexpected occurs, the system will respond with clarity, structure, and responsibility. It ensures that no worker, and no family, is left to bear the burden of work-related incidents alone.
"One of the key advantages we have in Lagos State is that we are not starting from a position of limitation. The State already possesses strong institutional structures, well-organised payroll systems, and established administrative processes. What is required now is not the creation of an entirely new system, but the effective integration of this Scheme into existing frameworks, thereby strengthening them and enhancing their overall impact.
"In Lagos State, where the pace of governance is both demanding and unrelenting, the individuals who keep the machinery of government running are not merely employees performing routine duties; they are the backbone upon which the State’s stability, continuity, and progress depend.
"It is therefore both necessary and commendable that Lagos State has taken a deliberate step toward strengthening the protection of its workforce".
He explained that the training was the direct outcome of a strategic engagement between the NSITF and the Lagos State Government, which resulted in the decision to fully implement the Employees’ Compensation Scheme across the State Public Service.
“Following that engagement, we took a deliberate step to initiate this sensitisation programme, with a clear objective: to ensure that those who are responsible for driving implementation, particularly the Employee Relations Officers and administrative leaders across MDAs, are fully equipped, not only with knowledge of the Scheme, but with the capacity to translate it into effective action”, he stated.
Continuing, the MD reiterated that “When this Scheme is fully implemented—and I am confident that it will be, the benefits to Lagos State will be substantial. It will result in a workforce that operates with a stronger sense of security and assurance, a governance structure that manages risk in a proactive and structured manner, and a government that demonstrates not only authority but a clear and practical commitment to the welfare of its people. In doing so, Lagos will continue to set the standard for others to follow”.
Moving a vote of thanks, the Head of Service, Lagos State, Mr. Bode Agoro, promised that Lagos State, being the Centre of Excellence, always sets the pace and would also replicate that with the ECS.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mrs Sunkanmi Oyegbola, the HoS said: “Lagos, as the Centre of Excellence, will always set the pace by driving the process of the Employees Compensation Scheme in the sub-national by ensuring employees in the state government get the best ECS has to offer”.
She expressed the hope that the scheme will give the staff of the state peace of mind to do their work diligently and with all commitment. She also charged directors and heads of human resources in MDAs in the state to drive the process in their organizations to ensure the scheme operates smoothly in the state.
She further disclosed that an NSITF desk office would be established to ensure the process functions effortlessly in the state.
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