From Adanna Nnamanj, Abuja
The Minister of the Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has affirmed that all agencies under the Ministry will adhere to the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Tunji-Ojo urged the Fund to strive for a fair and equitable work environment that benefits both the strong and the vulnerable, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.
According to a statement issued by NSITF Spokesperson, Nwachukwu Godson, the Minister spoke during an advocacy visit by the Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, in Abuja over the weekend.
The Minister noted that the Employees’ Compensation Act is a legal obligation that must be followed to ensure a social safety net for workers in both formal and informal sectors.
He said: “What the President wants is a new Nigeria, a Nigeria that will work not just for the strong but also for the weak, a renewed hope: to give hope even in the most hopeless situation, that’s what he wants.
“And I believe that as young people, we are in a better position to think out of the box, to be able to create a new Nigeria, to change the story, re-write it that generations coming can be proud of. Nobody can write such a story better than we can.
“For us as the Ministry of Interior, Federal Fire Service, Correctional Service, Immigration Service, National Identity Management Commission, NSCDC, others, we will obey the law.
“Putting it in proper perspective, the risk my officers take every day is huge, my officers at the border, when they are there, you never know what can happen. They don’t sleep so that we all can sleep. They go hungry so that we can eat, they sacrifice their blood, their sweat, and everything for this country. We will make sure that all the agencies under the boards of the ministry obey the law. It is a law, and compliance is mandatory,” he said.
Congratulating Faleye on his appointment, the Minister also commended him for his impressive performance, which has yielded results within months on saddle.
“I congratulate you for the good job you started, but of course, you have a long way to go. Your biggest asset is what you have, your creativity, and innovation. I know you have the capacity to do that.
The Minister also highlighted the need for direct deductions of ECS contributions from the accounts of ministries, parastatals and agencies of the federal government in line with the law, but stressed the need for accountable and transparent use of all funds.
The Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye in his address underlined the preparedness of the NSITF to support the economic renaissance of the President and further spoke extensively on the benefits of the ECS to workers and employers. He stated that the Interior Ministry with agencies whose employees work in difficult terrains are better assured of better safety cover with the ECS.
Faleye said, “It is also very important to speak about the benefits that are expected if there is compliance with the law. I have mentioned the payment of medical refunds, where there is any injury or sickness that is work related, NSITF will step in and be responsible for such medical bills.
“In the unfortunate occurrence of death arising out of work, we will pay compensation to family members of the bereaved up to a certain threshold. There is also the payment of loss of productivity where employers are able to recoup loss of productivity that is associated with the death of an employee or sickness arising from work.
“All of these we believe are important social safety nets that ultimately improve productivity in the country and that is our contribution to the economic renaissance that is being led by the President of the federal republic of Nigeria. So our visit essentially is to really look at all of these issues, address the compliance barriers that may be between us and the relevant agencies and drive strategic initiatives together to the benefits to the nation’s workforce.”