By Saminu Ibrahim
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, says the Fund has undergone significant reforms, moving from largely manual and top-heavy operations to a more digital, efficient and accountable institution.
Faleye stated this on Monday when he received the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, who was on a familiarisation visit to the NSITF headquarters in Abuja.
The NSITF boss said the visit provided an opportunity to brief the Permanent Secretary on the Fund’s reform journey, current realities and future plans.
He said when the present management assumed office in July 2024, it inherited an institution characterised by heavy reliance on manual processes, a management structure concentrated at the top, career stagnation, gaps in the deployment of personnel and resources, and outdated institutional processes.
Quoting the late literary icon, Chinua Achebe, Faleye said, “A man who does not know where the rain began to beat him cannot say where he dried his body,” stressing that the management had to confront the challenges honestly as the foundation for reform.
He said the reforms began with a comprehensive staff audit to assess the workforce structure and organisational needs, with recommendations being implemented in phases.
According to him, the Fund has also commenced a digital transformation programme aimed at replacing predominantly manual systems with integrated and responsive processes.
He added that structural imbalances were being addressed through a Voluntary Exit Exercise designed to create a leaner organisation, clarify responsibilities and provide renewed opportunities for career progression.
On infrastructure, Faleye disclosed that the Operations Directorate had been relocated to the more modern Mukhtar El-Yakub Building, while branches nationwide were undergoing renovations.
He said offices operating under branch-in-branch arrangements were also being provided with dedicated spaces, while furniture, ICT equipment, printers and transportation facilities were being deployed progressively.
The MD said the reforms had begun to translate into expanded coverage for Nigerian workers, noting that the Fund had successfully onboarded treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies and commenced payment of claims.
He disclosed that the first batch of five beneficiaries had recently received compensation at an event witnessed by the Permanent Secretary.
“We are at an advanced stage of engagement with the Lagos State Government and Taraba State Government, while discussions with a number of other States are progressing,” Faleye said.
He added that partnerships with federal MDAs and regional organisations were being strengthened to deepen coverage under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), particularly among workers in the informal and emerging economies.
Faleye, however, acknowledged that the Fund remained a work in progress, identifying expansion of coverage to informal workers, improved compliance, better data and digital integration, and enhanced claims administration as areas requiring further attention.
“After two years, I believe it is fair to say that NSITF is no longer where it was when this Management assumed office. The digital transformation has begun. The organisational structure is being progressively reconfigured. The top-heavy management structure is being addressed,” he said.
He described the Ministry of Labour and Employment as a strategic partner in strengthening Nigeria’s social protection system and called for closer collaboration to accelerate the reforms.
Responding, Shoretire commended the NSITF management for what he described as bold reforms and visible improvements, pledging the ministry’s continued support for strengthening Nigeria’s social security system.
The Permanent Secretary urged the Fund to work with sister agencies to bring more workers in the informal sector under the ECS, while also prioritising preventive workplace safety programmes.
Shoretire further called for greater cooperation between the NSITF management and its governing board to ensure the smooth running of the Fund’s operations.
