NSITF to lead NBA session on expanding legal protections for workers at Port Harcourt Conference

…As Faleye speaks on compliance, payroll transparency under ECA

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) will take centre stage at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference this month with a dedicated session aimed at pushing the legal boundaries of workplace protection and social security in Nigeria.

The session, scheduled for the NBA-AGC holding from 21st to 28th August 2026 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will be led by the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye.

With the theme _“Expanding The Legal Frontiers Of Workplace Protection And Social Security Beyond Limits In Nigeria,”_ the NSITF session builds on last year’s conference, which focused largely on creating awareness around the Employees’ Compensation Act, ECA 2010.

The 2026 engagement seeks to move beyond awareness to concrete action: strengthening implementation, driving employer compliance, and improving strategies for delivering workplace protection to Nigerians across all sectors and income levels.

Faleye, who will speak at the session, is expected to outline NSITF’s current drive to expand coverage and deepen collaboration with the judiciary and NBA to enforce the provisions of the Act.

The Port Harcourt session is expected to examine judicial perspectives on compliance, with particular focus on the legal implications of payroll under-declaration.

Discussions will also centre on transparency in employer obligations and how the legal community can help bridge the gap between policy and practice to ensure more workers can access compensation benefits.

The ECA 2010, administered by NSITF through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, ECS, provides compensation, medical care and rehabilitation for workers who suffer workplace injuries, occupational diseases, or death in the course of employment.

Despite its progressive provisions, NSITF has noted that major gaps persist around awareness, understanding of rights and obligations, and enforcement.

The Fund has also flagged under-declaration or outright exclusion of employees from employer payrolls as a critical issue limiting workers’ access to benefits.

The NSITF has noted that “Legal practitioners play a crucial role as stakeholders in promoting statutory obligations, advocating for employees, and supporting enforcement of the Act”.

The NBA Annual General Conference is the largest gathering of legal professionals in Nigeria and this year’s edition in Port Harcourt is expected to attract thousands of lawyers, judges, and policymakers to debate national issues around law, governance and social justice.

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund is the agency saddled with administering the Employees’ Compensation Scheme under the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010, providing social protection for workers in both public and private sectors.