By Chinedu Echianu
Managing Director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, has emphasized that strengthening institutional trust is critical to building public confidence and achieving effective governance in Nigeria.
Faleye stated this on Monday while speaking at the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gwagwalada Branch, held in Abuja.
He noted that beyond the enactment of laws, the future of governance in the country depends largely on the capacity of institutions to deliver on their mandates with integrity and accountability.
According to him, public service must go beyond occupying positions of authority, stressing that institutions must be used to protect vulnerable citizens, uphold fairness, and improve existing systems.
“For those of us entrusted with public responsibility, service must mean more than occupying office. It must mean using institutions to protect the vulnerable, uphold fairness, and leave systems better than we met them,” he said.
Faleye added that the legal profession has a critical role to play in maintaining the integrity of the justice system, ensuring that justice remains accessible and principled.
He also stressed that social protection should not be viewed as charity but as a legal and essential component of national development.
He warned that sustainable progress cannot be achieved in an environment where labour is unprotected, institutions are weak, and public trust is eroded.
He further highlighted the need to bridge the gap between legal rights and the everyday realities of citizens.
“Our laws must work for the worker. Our institutions must work for the citizen. And our governance culture must work for the public good,” he stated. The NSITF boss observed that one of the major challenges facing governance is not policy formulation but the lack of public confidence in institutions. He noted that citizens expect laws to be effectively implemented, while employers seek fairness and predictability.
“Institutions must earn the confidence of all sides through competence, consistency, and credibility. That is why institutional trust is such an important national question,” he said.
Faleye also described the Law Week gathering as a moment for reflection among legal practitioners, emphasizing that institutions become strong not merely by their creation through law but through purposeful leadership, integrity, and public trust.
Speaking on the mandate of the NSITF, he explained that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme is built on the principle that no worker should bear the burden of workplace injury, disease, disability, or death alone.
“That principle is both legal and moral,” he said, adding that trust in public institutions is built gradually through consistent reforms, transparent processes, and fair decisions.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the NBA Gwagwalada Branch, Clever Owhor, said restoring public trust in Nigeria’s legal system requires collective action from all stakeholders.
Owhor noted that the theme of the 2026 Law Week, “Rebuilding Public Trust in the Nigerian Legal System,” reflects growing concerns about declining confidence in the justice system due to delays, perceived lack of transparency, and barriers to access.
