Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, managing director and chief executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), has called for greater institutional collaboration between the fund and the Taraba State Government to improve the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS).
Faleye, who led a fund delegation on a courtesy visit to the Taraba State Governor at his office in Jalingo on Thursday, said the engagement was far from ceremonial, describing it as part of a deliberate strategy to build structured partnerships with “progressive state governments committed to workers’ welfare and institutional sustainability”.
The MD/CEO emphasised that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme is more than just a statutory obligation; it is a critical social protection tool that ensures worker dignity and employer stability.
“When a worker is injured, disabled, or killed in the line of duty, the government’s response defines public trust and reinforces confidence in leadership,” Falaye said, noting that expanding ECS coverage is directly aligned with the governor’s welfare-driven agenda and congratulating Governor Kefas on his commitment to worker welfare.
The NSITF boss emphasised the importance of moving beyond dialogue to measurable outcomes and proposed practical steps to increase ECS compliance across state MDAs, sensitise major employers and contractors operating in Taraba, and raise workplace safety and compensation awareness throughout the state.
To ensure structure and accountability, Faleye proposed a focal ministry or designated official to coordinate engagement with the NSITF.
“If it pleases Your Excellency, we can immediately set up a joint technical interface between your designated team and ours to develop a short implementation roadmap within the next few weeks,” he said, noting that the Fund has already established an internal Strategic Inter-Agency Coordination (SIAC) framework to track timelines and deliverables from such engagements.
Faleye emphasised the mutual benefits of increased ECS coverage, stating that it would protect workers, reduce employers’ liability exposure, promote industrial harmony, and reinforce the administration’s commitment to structured social protection.
In an effort to institutionalise compliance, the NSITF managing director proposed incorporating the ECS Compliance Certificate into the state’s public procurement and contracting processes.
He explained that including evidence of NSITF compliance in contract bidding, pre-qualification for state projects, contractor registration and renewal, and public-private partnership engagements would not create new obligations but rather strengthen existing statutory requirements.
The approach, he added, would ensure that companies that receive public funds are also compliant in protecting their employees.
Faleye concluded by requesting clarification on the state’s preferred coordination structure, requesting that the governor advise on which ministry or official the fund should immediately work with to operationalise the collaboration.
Barrister Faleye then confirmed the governor’s appointment as the ambassador for ECS advocacy in Taraba State, specifically, and the Northeast in general.
Responding, Governor Kefas stated that the state would invest in the ECS for the benefit of the workers.
“The Taraba State government is ready to work with the NSITF to ensure that all workers are enrolled in the scheme. We would work through the offices of the Head of Service, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Local Government,” he explained.
The governor, while welcoming the NSITF delegation, expressed gratitude for the “kind words on all the positive things you have noticed we are doing to improve the lives of our people”.
He revealed that “only recently we paid 5 billion Naira to pensioners in the state” and expressed optimism that “by the end of the year, the state will no longer own any pensioners’ entitlements.”
“We would fulfil all obligations under the scheme as part of our commitment to worker welfare,” Governor Kefas promised.
On the confirmation of the ambassador for advocacy of ECS in the state and the entire Northeast region, the governor stated, “I want to assure you that I am interested in your mandate. I am eager to accept any assignment that will strengthen this mandate for the benefit of the country and workers in general.”
Governor Kefas immediately established a high-powered committee to work with the NSITF to ensure Taraba State is ECS-compliant.
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