Nigeria To Host 2026 ISSA Seminar, Targets Stronger Social Protection

Nigeria is set to host the 2026 International Social Security Association (ISSA) West Africa Technical Seminar in Abuja, positioning the country at the centre of regional efforts to deepen social protection systems and expand access to social security services across West Africa.

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) said it is prepared to facilitate solution-driven discussions to address longstanding coverage gaps, particularly among workers in the informal sector.

The seminar, scheduled for April 22–23, will convene policymakers, employers, labour representatives and development partners to chart practical pathways for improving social security delivery.

The managing director of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, told journalists in Abuja that the seminar underscored Nigeria’s growing leadership in advancing workplace protection and social insurance reforms.

He noted that while progress has been recorded through initiatives such as the Employees’ Compensation Scheme and expanded workplace injury coverage, more work remains to deepen inclusion and simplify access.

Faleye explained that the theme of the seminar, “Improving Inclusiveness and Accessibility of Social Security Services through Effective Communication,” reflects a deliberate shift towards bridging awareness gaps, reducing process complexity, and rebuilding trust in institutions.

He added that West African countries share similar socio-economic realities, including large informal economies and evolving labour markets, making regional collaboration essential. According to him, the seminar will provide a platform for peer learning and adaptation of practical solutions suited to local contexts, rather than replicating foreign models.

Key institutions expected at the event include the Federal Ministry of Labour, PENCOM, NECA, MAN, NLC, TUC, UNESCO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), among others.

Faleye stressed that strengthening social security requires coordinated action from governments, employers, workers and development partners.

He said the seminar is expected to generate actionable insights to improve service delivery, enhance institutional collaboration, and promote communication strategies that can drive wider coverage and trust in social protection systems.

He said, “We look forward to welcoming stakeholders from across the region to Abuja. What we begin in Abuja is not just a conversation; it is a commitment to strengthening protection for millions of workers across West Africa.

This Seminar comes at a time when social protection systems globally, and particularly in West Africa, are under pressure to evolve. Across our region, millions of workers, especially in the informal sector, remain outside formal social security coverage.

The question is no longer whether social security is important, but how effectively we are delivering it.

Social security must not remain a system people hear about; it must become a system people can access, understand, and trust.”