By Sharon Akuboh
In a decisive move to strengthen social protection and institutional accountability, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, on Thursday paid a strategic courtesy visit to the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, at the Government House in Jalingo.
The high-level engagement, held on February 26, 2026, underscored a shared commitment to advancing workers’ welfare through the effective implementation and expansion of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS). Far from a ceremonial meeting, the visit formed part of a broader institutional strategy by the Fund to establish structured partnerships with reform-driven state governments.
Addressing the Governor and senior state officials, Faleye described the ECS as more than a statutory requirement, emphasizing its role as a critical social protection mechanism that safeguards workers’ dignity while providing stability for employers.
“When a worker is injured, disabled, or loses his life in the course of duty, the response of the government defines public trust and reinforces confidence in leadership,” he stated.
The NSITF helmsman commended Governor Kefas for his administration’s welfare-focused posture and noted that expanding ECS coverage aligns directly with Taraba State’s workforce protection goals. He stressed, however, that discussions must now translate into measurable and time-bound outcomes.
To drive compliance, Faleye proposed expanding ECS implementation across State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), intensifying sensitization of major employers and contractors, and strengthening statewide awareness of workplace safety and compensation obligations.
He further recommended the designation of a focal ministry or official to coordinate with the Fund and proposed the immediate establishment of a joint technical interface to develop a short-term implementation roadmap. According to him, NSITF has instituted an internal Strategic Inter-Agency Coordination (SIAC) framework to track timelines and deliverables from such engagements.
Highlighting the institutional benefits of robust ECS compliance, Faleye noted that strengthened implementation would reduce litigation risks for employers, promote industrial harmony, and reinforce structured governance.
In a forward-looking recommendation, he advocated integrating the ECS Compliance Certificate into Taraba State’s public procurement and contracting processes. Under this framework, companies seeking state contracts, pre-qualification, contractor registration, renewals, or public-private partnership engagements would be required to present evidence of NSITF compliance. He clarified that the measure would reinforce existing statutory obligations rather than introduce new ones.
As the meeting concluded, Faleye formally conferred on Governor Kefas the title of Ambassador and Advocate of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme in Taraba State and across the Northeast region.
In his response, Governor Kefas welcomed the delegation and affirmed the state’s readiness to key fully into the Scheme. He assured that implementation would be coordinated through the Office of the Head of Service, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Local Government.
The Governor also highlighted progress in meeting pension obligations, revealing that the state had paid ₦5 billion to pensioners and expressing optimism that outstanding entitlements would be cleared before year-end.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, Governor Kefas pledged full compliance with the ECS mandate and approved the immediate constitution of a high-powered committee to interface with the NSITF.
The meeting ended on a note of strong institutional alignment and shared responsibility, marking a significant milestone in deepening collaboration and embedding structured social protection across Taraba State and the wider Northeast.