By Chinedu Echianu
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, has disclosed that the Fund is prioritising issues surrounding platform workers, the gig economy and the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the future of work as part of efforts to adapt to emerging workplace realities.
Faleye made the remarks while responding to questions following the presentation of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari-Dingyadi, at the General Assembly of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
The minister had called for inclusive and human-centred AI policies that would protect jobs and workers’ rights while leveraging technology to drive economic growth and decent work.
Speaking in an interview after the minister’s presentation, Faleye described the address as a robust intervention that tackled some of the most pressing issues confronting the labour sector.
“I think it’s a very robust response, particularly as it deals with emerging issues in the place of work generally. Some of the key issues that we’ve been dealing with within the labour ecosystem have been the treatment of platform workers, the gig economy, and, of course, the impact of AI on labour and workers generally,” he said.
According to him, governments and institutions must acknowledge the permanence of AI and develop strategies to address its implications for workers and workplaces.
“It is important that we recognise that AI is here to stay. The more governments and institutions like ours understand the implications of AI on workers, on the role of workers and the workplace, the more we are able to engage on relevant solutions,” Faleye stated.
He noted that changing work patterns driven by technological innovations have expanded the traditional definition of labour beyond formal workplaces.
“Traditionally, labour has been defined within the context of the formal workplace economy, but recent innovations now entail people working from home and on platforms such as Uber and Bolt.
There is a need to define appropriate ways to measure their role and impact and for us at NSITF to understand how best to situate our mandate within those new work realities,” he said.
The NSITF boss further revealed that the Fund is exploring ways to extend workplace injury compensation and social protection coverage to workers classified as independent contractors.
He explained that one of the major challenges is determining how workplace injuries should be defined within the platform work ecosystem.
“The core engagement is really in defining what constitutes a workplace within the platform workers’ ecosystem. It is also to fashion out how best to engage them in terms of contributions and how best to provide compensation in the event of workplace injury,” he said.
Faleye noted that questions surrounding remote work present unique challenges for compensation frameworks.
“For those working from home, at what point can we better understand when an injury occurs and whether that injury is work-related or something else These are issues we are grappling with,” he said.
He added that engagement with stakeholders at forums such as the International Labour Conference would help shape appropriate policy responses.
“I think sitting down with the relevant stakeholders to discuss this, which this conference provides, is the right step in the right direction, and we’re glad to be part of that discussion,” he added.
Faleye also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, describing it as a critical step in positioning Nigeria to benefit from global technological advancements.
“We cannot be left behind in the digital innovations that are driving business activities and workplaces worldwide,” he said.
He pointed to the increasing integration of AI into Nigeria’s public service, expressing confidence that government institutions would continue to improve service delivery through technology.
