By Chinedu Echianu
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, has reaffirmed the importance of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) in restoring hope, dignity and confidence to Nigerian workers who suffer injuries in the course of their duties.
Faleye spoke in Abuja at the weekend during the presentation of prosthetic limbs to ten beneficiaries under the scheme.
Represented by the General Manager, Claims and Compensation, Nkiru Ogunnike, the NSITF chief said the intervention continues to improve the lives of injured workers by supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
He said the Employees’ Compensation Scheme goes beyond statutory compensation, describing it as a humane commitment to preserving the dignity of workers affected by occupational hazards.
According to him, workplace accidents often leave victims not only with physical injuries but also emotional trauma and uncertainty about the future.
“For many Nigerian workers, a single workplace incident can permanently alter the course of their lives,” he said.
Faleye, however, noted that the intervention of the NSITF through the ECS offers victims a second chance to rebuild their lives and regain independence.
He cited the experiences of two beneficiaries — Daniel Etim, a staff member of the University of Uyo Printing Press, and Festus Okpara of Tower Aluminium Laos — as examples of the impact of the scheme.
Daniel lost his arm in May 2024 after it was trapped in an industrial machine during a routine workday, an injury that led to amputation.
Faleye said through the intervention of the NSITF as administrators of the ECS, Daniel received medical support, with his treatment expenses fully covered under the scheme.
“Beyond the payment of medical bills, the Fund extended further rehabilitative support by providing him with a prosthetic arm, reaffirming its commitment not only to compensation but also to restoring dignity, confidence and functionality to injured workers,” he said.
He added that Daniel’s story reflects the broader mandate of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme as a social protection mechanism designed to ensure that Nigerian workers who suffer workplace injuries, disabilities, occupational diseases or death are not abandoned in moments of vulnerability.
Faleye also recounted the case of Festus Okpara, whose workplace accident occurred in 2015.
Having lost his hand in the incident, Okpara lived for years with the emotional burden that accompanied his physical condition.
“Beyond the trauma of the accident itself was the constant public attention, the quizzical looks and the pitying stares that made social interactions difficult,” Faleye said.
He explained that the NSITF later provided Okpara with a silicone prosthetic hand, helping him regain not only physical confidence but also a renewed sense of inclusion and self-worth.
“For beneficiaries like Daniel and Festus, the interventions of the NSITF have become more than institutional obligations; they represent hope, restoration and reassurance that injured workers are not left to navigate tragedy alone,” he added.
Faleye said the experiences of the beneficiaries also draw attention to a frequently overlooked dimension of workplace injuries — the psychological and emotional scars that often remain long after physical wounds have healed.
He stressed that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme continues to serve as a vital safety net for workers in both the public and private sectors.
Speaking at the event, one of the beneficiaries, Festus Okpara, expressed gratitude to the Fund for the support.
“I thank NSITF for coming all this way to help. At least with this silicone artificial hand, I can go out in public and feel free. NSITF has reduced the level of trauma,” he said.
The 10 beneficiaries presented with prosthetic limbs are part of 78 injured workers recently fitted with artificial limbs under the ongoing rehabilitation and reintegration programme of the NSITF.
