Employers’ Association Seek Partnership On Workers’ Compensation Scheme

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has announced plans to collaborate with the federal government, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and organised labour to strengthen the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS).

The NECA director general, Wale Smatt-Oyerinde, disclosed this recently at the Safe Workplace Intervention Project (SWIP) Annual Interactive Enlightenment Forum and Awards Presentation held at NECA House, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi, said the SWIP initiative had brought together key stakeholders to advance safe, healthy and productive workplaces across the country. He described the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) as a major milestone in Nigeria’s labour administration framework, noting that it guarantees fair and adequate compensation for workers who suffer injuries, disabilities, diseases or death arising from their employment.

Dingyadi said the Act also prioritises prevention by encouraging employers to improve workplace safety, risk management and occupational health practices. According to him, the project combines awareness, client support and recognition of best practices to promote a culture in which safety is regarded as an investment in human capital and productivity rather than a cost.

The minister of state for Labour and Employment,  Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to strengthen enforcement of the Factory Rights Act nationwide. She called for stronger partnerships with stakeholders such as NECA, stressing that job creation must not come at the expense of worker safety.

“No job is worth a human life. Every Nigerian worker must leave home for work and return safely at the end of the day,” Onyejeocha said, urging employers to comply fully with the law and continue investing in safety systems.

She also advised workers to remain safety-conscious and exercise their rights responsibly.

Also speaking, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, said sustained efforts to strengthen the NSITF Act, improve compliance and empower workers would transform occupational risk management in Nigeria. He said such measures would reduce the socio-economic burden of workplace injuries and promote a culture of safety and accountability.

In his remarks, Smatt-Oyerinde said the SWIP initiative was designed as a learning and engagement platform to help employers understand their obligations under the law, appreciate the benefits of compliance and adopt proactive occupational safety and health practices. He noted that the interactive forum and awards ceremony were aimed at recognising organisations with exemplary safety records while addressing challenges employers face in implementing the ECA 2010.

The chief executive officer of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, described SWIP as a strategic platform for driving awareness, strengthening compliance and fostering collaboration on occupational safety and health. He said compliance should be viewed as a strategic business decision that protects human capital, reduces operational risks and enhances corporate reputation.

A highlight of the event was the recognition of several companies, including Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria and Chi Limited, for their commitment to workplace safety, with some organisations receiving car ambulances to support emergency response and safety initiatives.