Today’s safety choices will shape Nigeria’s workforce future – NSITF Boss

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, has urged employers across the country to take workplace safety and health compliance seriously, warning that decisions taken today will ultimately determine the future of work in Nigeria.

Faleye gave the charge on Tuesday in Lagos at the Stakeholders’ Interactive Enlightenment Forum and Awards Ceremony, marking the kick-off of the 2025 NSITF–NECA Safe Workplace Intervention Project (SWIP).

In his welcome address, the NSITF boss stressed that Nigeria’s productivity and economic growth must not come at the expense of workers’ safety.

“The future of work in Nigeria will be defined by how well we protect our workforce while driving productivity and growth,” Faleye said.

He described the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) 2010 as being founded on a simple but critical principle — that every worker matters.

“No job is worth a life, and no organisation can sustainably thrive when safety is treated as an afterthought,” he stated, urging organisations yet to fully comply with safety regulations to use the forum as an opportunity to realign with statutory requirements.

Speaking on the theme of the programme, ‘Enhancing Workplace Safety, Strengthening Compliance, Celebrating Excellence,’ Faleye noted that compliance should not be seen merely as a regulatory obligation but as a strategic business decision that protects human capital, reduces operational risks and enhances organisational reputation.

He explained that the SWIP initiative has evolved into a strategic platform for promoting awareness, strengthening compliance and fostering collaboration on occupational safety and health issues.

“Today’s gathering is not just an information session; it is a shared commitment to ensure that economic growth does not come at the cost of worker safety, dignity and livelihoods,” he added.

On the awards segment of the programme, Faleye said the recognitions were meant to serve as benchmarks for best practices in occupational safety and health.

“These awards signal that compliance is achievable, that safety delivers value, and that excellence in worker protection deserves recognition,” he said.

He commended the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), participating organisations and other partners for their roles in the success of the programme, while reaffirming NSITF’s commitment to deepening collaboration and promoting safer workplaces nationwide.

Earlier, the Director-General of NECA, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, described workplace safety as a fundamental responsibility of employers, warning that it remains a life-and-death issue often treated with dangerous nonchalance.

Oyerinde said that while employers pursue profitability, the safety and wellbeing of workers must remain a top priority, expressing confidence that the SWIP initiative would help reset national conversations on workplace safety.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, said the Safe Workplace Intervention Project is a collaborative occupational health and safety initiative aimed at improving workplace standards through structured audits, engagement and recognition.

He noted that occupational health and safety is a collective responsibility, adding that government alone cannot address the challenge.

The minister commended NSITF and NECA for sustaining SWIP, describing it as a model of effective public-private sector collaboration.

Also speaking, Executive Director (Operations), NSITF, Honourable Mojisola Ali-Macauley, said the ECA 2010 empowers the Fund to oversee occupational safety and health matters nationwide.

She disclosed that nearly 200,000 organisations, covering about eight million employees, are currently registered under the scheme, while over 142,000 beneficiaries have received compensation or support in various forms.

At the event, seven companies in the Lagos region were recognised for maintaining high occupational health and safety standards. Chivita and Nigerian Breweries received ambulances, while five other organisations were awarded safety infrastructure items, including first-aid kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other workplace safety tools.

The NSITF–NECA SWIP, a joint initiative of NSITF and NECA, is designed to promote voluntary compliance with workplace safety standards through awareness creation, safety audits and incentives, rather than enforcement.

The 2025 SWIP Awards are scheduled to hold in Lagos, Enugu and Abuja, with a grand finale planned for later in the year.