The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has called for stronger judicial interpretation and enforcement of the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA), 2010, to ensure workers receive fair compensation for work-related injuries, disabilities and other occupational risks.
The Fund’s Managing Director, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of its 2026 Legal Stakeholders’ Engagement, where he urged the judiciary, employers and other stakeholders to strengthen the implementation of the law and ensure workers receive their legitimate entitlements without unnecessary delays.
The two-day engagement, themed “Enhancing Judicial Interpretation, Adjudication and Enforcement under the Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010,” focuses on translating workers’ legal rights into practical justice.
Speaking at the event, Faleye said having laws that protect workers was not enough without proper interpretation, fair adjudication and effective enforcement to guarantee that their rights were upheld.
“The existence of a law does not by itself guarantee that its promise will be fulfilled,” he said.
He explained that effective implementation of the Act required a proper understanding and application of its provisions, fair resolution of disputes without unnecessary delays, and compliance with lawful judgments and court orders.
According to him, weaknesses in any of these areas could undermine public confidence in the Employees’ Compensation Scheme and prevent workers from receiving benefits to which they were entitled.
Faleye described the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) as a key institution in ensuring labour justice, noting that its interpretation of the Act would shape workplace relations and guide the resolution of future disputes.
He said workers needed the assurance that legitimate compensation claims would be addressed, while employers required a predictable legal environment where their responsibilities were fairly determined.
The NSITF managing director added that the Fund would continue to improve claims processing, strengthen its administrative procedures, raise awareness and encourage employers to comply with the Act.
He urged participants to use the engagement to identify practical solutions, clarify legal uncertainties, improve cooperation and reduce avoidable disputes in the administration of the compensation scheme.
“The value of a stakeholder engagement lies not merely in the quality of speeches delivered but in the clarity of understanding it produces and the improvements that follow,” Faleye said.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammadu Dingyadi, said public confidence in institutions depended on the fair, impartial and dignified administration of justice.
Recalling the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa’s statement that “the judiciary is the last hope of the common man,” Dingyadi said the justice system must protect citizens who had exhausted other avenues for seeking redress.
He noted that public trust required sound judgment, integrity in public service and an unwavering commitment to fairness.
The minister added that the credibility of institutions depended on their actions rather than promises.
“The credibility of our institutions is strengthened not by words alone, but by the quality and integrity of their actions,” he stressed.
Dingyadi commended the NSITF management for organising the engagement, describing it as an important national initiative towards strengthening the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Act.
Also speaking at the event, the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Benedict Kanyip, called for stronger collaboration among relevant institutions to improve the Employees’ Compensation Scheme and ensure beneficiaries receive their entitlements.
Kanyip commended the NSITF for creating a platform for engagement with the judiciary, saying the initiative would strengthen the Fund’s impact and improve service delivery under the scheme.
