NECA Partners with Federal Government and NSITF to Strengthen Employment Compensation Scheme
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed its readiness to work closely with the Organized Labour, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to bolster the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.
Wale Smatt-Oyerinde, Director-General of NECA, made this commitment during the Safe Workplace Intervention Project (SWIP) Annual Interactive Enlightenment Forum and Awards Ceremony held at NECA House in Lagos today.
Delivering remarks at the event, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi, stated that the SWIP initiative has united key stakeholders to promote safe, healthy, and productive workplaces across Nigeria.
Dingyadi described the dialogue as a strong demonstration of our collective commitment to protecting workers and sustaining enterprises. He stated that the Act represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s labour administration framework, guaranteeing fair, adequate compensation to workers who suffer injuries, disabilities, or diseases, or death arising from the cause of their employment.
“It places a premium on prevention by encouraging employers to prioritize workplace safety, risk management, and occupational therapy,” he said.
He also noted that the project was timely and strategic in combining awareness, client support, and recognition of best practices to foster a culture where safety is viewed not as a cost but as a vital investment in human capital, productivity, and national development.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, emphasized that the federal government is working tirelessly to strengthen the enforcement of the Factory Rights Act.
While urging collaboration with key stakeholders such as NECA, Onyejeocha said the FG would continue to intensify workplace instructions nationwide.
“We cannot speak of job creation while workers are exposed to preventable danger. No job is worth a human life. Our objective is simple but non-negotiable. Every Nigerian worker must leave home for work and return safely at the end of the day,” she stated.
She also called on employers to fully comply with the provisions of the Act and to invest continuously in safety systems. “I also encourage workers to remain self-conscious and to exercise their rights responsibly under the law,” she added.
Congratulating the award recipients, Onyejeocha noted that the recognition demonstrates that compliance and competitiveness can go hand in hand.
Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, highlighted that sustained efforts to strengthen the NSITF Act, improve compliance, and empower workers can transform occupational risk management in Nigeria.
According to Ajaero, this approach will reduce the socio-economic burden of workplace injuries and promote a culture of safety, accountability, and social justice across Nigerian workplaces. He stressed the importance of raising awareness, enforcement, and inclusivity, stating that the Act could serve as a model framework for workers’ protection, ensuring fair, timely, and adequate compensation for all employees regardless of sector.
In his opening remarks, Wale Smatt-Oyerinde, NECA’s Director-General, explained that SWIP is designed as a learning and equipment platform, enabling employers to better understand their legal obligations, appreciate the benefits of compliance, and adopt proactive occupational safety practices that protect both workers and enterprises.
He described the interactive session and awards as targeted efforts to recognize organizations demonstrating exemplary commitment to workplace safety, while also providing a platform to address practical challenges faced by employers in implementing the ECA 2010.
“The Lagos event is part of the nationwide SWIP engagement series, which reflects the association’s resolve to ensure that employers across the country are adequately informed, engaged, and supported in achieving compliance and improving workplace safety outcomes. Safe workplaces are productive places where workers are protected, motivated, and assured of compensation in the event of injury or any disease,” he said.
He added that most Nigerian enterprises are becoming more resilient, competitive, and sustainable.
Oluwaseun Faleye, CEO of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, stated that SWIP has evolved into a strategic platform for raising awareness, enhancing compliance, and fostering collaboration around occupational safety and health.
According to Faleye, the forum acts as a vital interface between policy, innovation, and private sector practice, where employers, workers, regulators, and partners work together to build safer, more productive workplaces. He described the dialogue as a demonstration of the agencies’ shared commitment to ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of worker safety, and that productivity is rooted in workplaces that protect lives, dignity, and livelihoods.
While commending NECA for its leadership in promoting employer compliance and workers’ safety, Faleye emphasized that compliance should not be viewed merely as a regulatory obligation but as a strategic business decision that saves human capital, reduces operational risks, and boosts organizational reputation.
A key highlight of the event was the recognition of companies such as Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria, Chi Limited, among others, with some receiving ambulances to promote workplace safety.