By Chinedu Echianu
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to champion legal reforms that will expand workplace protection and social security coverage to informal sector, gig and platform workers.
The NSITF Managing Director and Chief Executive, Oluwaseun Faleye, made the call at the 66th Annual General Conference of the NBA in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Faleye, represented by the Fund’s General Manager, Abuja Region, Bridget Ashang, spoke on the theme, “Beyond Limits: Expanding the Legal Frontiers of Workplace Protection and Social Security in Nigeria.”
He said changes in Nigeria’s labour market had created forms of employment that existing laws do not adequately cover.
Faleye said lawmakers and legal practitioners must develop a framework that protects workers beyond traditional formal employment relationships.
He described social security as a means of providing healthcare and income protection against risks such as old age, unemployment, sickness, workplace injury, maternity and the loss of a breadwinner. “Social security is not charity. It is social justice,” Faleye said.
According to him, the Employees’ Compensation Scheme provides employment injury benefits to workers in the public and private sectors, except members of the Armed Forces.
The NSITF administers the scheme under the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010. Employers fund the scheme, while the law prohibits them from deducting contributions from workers’ salaries.
Faleye noted that the scheme supports injured workers during recovery, provides income continuity and reduces employers’ liability.
He explained that the scheme encourages employers to improve occupational health and safety standards.
The NSITF chief said Nigeria’s social security framework remains largely focused on formal employment despite the growing number of people working outside conventional employment arrangements.
He cited the International Labour Organisation’s Social Security Convention No. 102, which covers nine areas of social security, including healthcare, sickness, unemployment, old age, employment injury, family, maternity, invalidity and survivors’ benefits.
Faleye outlined areas where the NBA could help expand workplace protection. He urged the association to increase public awareness, provide legal and policy advice, strengthen advocacy, and support corporate audits.
He also called for test-case litigation to broaden the legal definitions of “employee,” “employer” and “workplace” to reflect changing employment patterns.
The fund said stronger legal protection would help bring workers in informal and emerging sectors into the social security system.
