NSITF Disburses N31.7m to Families of Deceased Workers

On Tuesday, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) presented its first compensation cheques totaling N31.72 million to five beneficiaries from treasury-funded Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Abuja. This event marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), occurring 15 years after the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) was enacted.

NSITF Managing Director and CEO, Oluwaseun Faleye, emphasized that the event was a fulfillment of a legal obligation rather than a ceremonial occasion. He noted that federal civil servants had previously struggled to access these benefits.

The breakthrough followed the onboarding of federal workers into the ECS and the establishment of an ECS Help Desk in April to facilitate claims processing. Faleye commended Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, for her leadership in ensuring compliance.

He acknowledged that while financial compensation cannot replace lost lives, it serves as official recognition of the sacrifices made by the beneficiaries.