Interior Minister Pledges Compliance To Employees’ Compensation Scheme

The minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has pledged compliance of all agencies under his ministry with the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) managed by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The declaration was made during an advocacy visit by the NSITF managing director, Oluwaseun Faleye, in Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo emphasised that the Employees’ Compensation Act remains a critical legal framework designed to provide a social safety net for workers in both formal and informal sectors.

According to a statement by NSITF’s general manager, corporate affairs, Nwachukwu Godson, the minister, while highlighting the risks faced daily by officers across various agencies, assured that his ministry, which oversees the Federal Fire Service, Immigration Service, and Correctional Service, would ensure full compliance with the ECS.

“Our officers make immense sacrifices, risking their lives at borders and other critical areas to safeguard this country. It is imperative that they are guaranteed protection and compensation as stipulated by law,” the minister stated.

He lauded Faleye’s leadership at NSITF, commending the progress made under his tenure.
Tunji-Ojo also called for direct deductions of ECS contributions from government accounts to ensure seamless compliance, stressing the importance of transparent and accountable fund management.

Faleye, in his remarks, stressed the ECS’s role as a vital tool in safeguarding workers and enhancing productivity.

He outlined its benefits, which include medical refunds for work-related injuries, compensation to families of deceased employees, and financial support to employers for productivity losses due to workplace incidents.

“Our focus is to ensure that workers, especially those in high-risk environments, are protected and supported,” Faleye said.

He reiterated NSITF’s commitment to aligning with President Tinubu’s economic renaissance agenda, noting that a secure and motivated workforce remains essential to achieving national goals.