The Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has expressed its readiness to support the Lagos State Government in establishing the appropriate institutional framework for the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) in the State.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSITF, Barrister Oluwaseun Falaye, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by his management team to the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, in his office on Thursday.
Falaye said the visit was aimed at creating a clear and structured pathway for the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme in Lagos State.
He assured the state government of NSITF’s full support in key areas, including technical onboarding and advisory services, sensitisation across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), local government areas (LGAs) and public institutions, as well as claims processing, compensation administration and occupational safety and health interventions.
To sustain the momentum, Falaye said NSITF was seeking alignment on key implementation steps, including the identification of a lead coordinating ministry or office, the nomination of a focal person or technical desk, and an agreement to convene a joint technical session within the next two weeks.
Speaking on the strategic importance of Lagos, Falaye noted that the state’s large and diverse workforce, multiple MDAs and LGAs, and strong administrative and payroll systems make it a critical partner in the scheme’s successful rollout.
He said the engagement aligns with the Lagos State Government’s THEMES+ Agenda, particularly in the areas of governance, economic sustainability, and health and environment.
“At this stage, our objective is practical and implementation-focused: to establish a coordination structure between Lagos State and NSITF and to agree on immediate next steps for a seamless onboarding process,” he said.
Falaye explained that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme provides structured protection for employees in cases of workplace injury, disease, disability, or death, while also offering a framework for managing employer liabilities and strengthening occupational safety for workers.
According to him, the scheme directly supports key pillars of the THEMES+ Agenda by protecting the workforce that drives productivity and economic output under economic sustainability, strengthening compliance and accountability under governance, and promoting safer workplaces and preventive occupational health practices under health and environment.
He proposed the designation of a coordinating authority to serve as the state’s anchor for ECS implementation, the nomination of a technical focal person or desk office, and the establishment of a joint technical working framework involving relevant state officials and NSITF representatives.
He said the joint framework would focus on workforce data mapping, onboarding design and contribution modelling.
Falaye also highlighted the opportunity to institutionalise compliance through existing state processes, including the integration of NSITF compliance requirements into contract bidding, contractor prequalification and public procurement frameworks.
According to him, such measures would further reinforce the governance pillar of the THEMES+ Agenda by ensuring that organisations doing business with the state meet minimum worker protection standards.
He reiterated NSITF’s commitment to working closely with the Lagos State Government to develop an effective implementation model for the scheme.
Responding, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, expressed appreciation for the initiative and announced the full implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme in the State.
He also disclosed that a dedicated unit would be established within the state public service to manage the scheme.
