Our success not measured by claims, compensations alone – NSITF

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSIRF), has explained that the payment of claims and compensations does not alone measure the success of the organisation, as the prevention of accidents is the first process in Employees’ Compensation.

NSITF noted that prioritising robust occupational safety and health (OSH) initiatives is key to accident prevention, making claim disbursements inversely related to this preventative effort.

NSITF’s Managing Director, Maureen Allagoa, clarified this stance during a meeting with the Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), according to a statement by the Fund’s Spokesperson Mr. Nwachukwu Godson on Wednesday.

Represented by Adegoke Adediji, executive director, Finance and Investment, Allagoa addressed recent misconceptions about NSITF’s mandate, stressing that the organisation’s accomplishments extend beyond claim payouts, given that effective OSH programs significantly reduce workplace incidents.

“Measuring the progress of the NSITF by the number of claims and compensations paid is a very poor grasp  of our mandate and  operations. By ECA 2010, occupational safety and health is in inverse proportion to claims and compensations. When the occupational safety and health programmes(OSH) are top notch and producing results, the rate of workplace accidents that trigger claims and compensations declines. When OSH is not active, the reverse becomes the case.     

“A well-managed NSITF primarily seeks the reduction of workplace accidents. This is the first step our management takes through  a robust pursuit of occupational safety and health programmes. But if accident occurs, we follow up with rehabilitation. Then payment of claims and compensations, where necessary.

“And the NSITF has been discharging all obligations on the payment of  compensations to employees and their dependents for death, injury, disability arising out of or in the course of employment. We  rehabilitate those who suffer workplace disabilities. 

“In fact, we have a case in hand where we’ve paid close to 70 million at  N1.3 million every month and another where the Fund  pays about 1.5 million every month and  will continue paying till the last child is 21 years of age.

“But while we do this, we intensify accident prevention programmes, even collaborating with other agencies and relevant stakeholders to emplace occupational safety and health(OSH) standards in all workplaces enrolled with the Fund. This is the charge of our active OSH department in our 57 branches and 12 regions  across the country.”

Allagoa further affirmed  that the current management has a clear road map for the future of the Fund, stating that it is changing with the times in terms of  rules and operations.

She, however, insisted that the Fund’s tripartite stakeholders are involved in all major administrative decisions, including the recent  introduction of fees for fresh registration  and for compliance certificates. 

She further assured the Council of Registered Insurance Brokers that the NSITF would consider its request for collaboration, adding that both organisations have similar roles in the world of work.