The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund has pledged to share technical knowledge with the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund under the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation of the Gambia, part of a broader effort to advance social protection and workers’ welfare across West Africa.
Managing Director Oluwaseun Faleye, represented by Executive Director of Administration Samaila Abdu, gave the assurance at the closing ceremony of a one week study tour by the Gambian institution’s board to NSITF’s operations. NSITF will continue to support the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund by sharing technical knowledge, exchanging experience and providing guidance wherever we can, Faleye said, describing the relationship as a partnership between brothers working toward the common goal of strengthening social protection and worker welfare across the sub region, and assured the visiting delegation that the relationship does not end with the closing ceremony but marks the beginning of an even stronger partnership between the two institutions, asking them to convey his regards to the SSHFC’s Managing Director, Board and management team upon their return home. He thanked the delegation for choosing NSITF as the destination for its study tour, calling the decision an honour and a demonstration of growing collaboration among social security institutions in the sub region, and expressed appreciation for the openness, professionalism and mutual respect that defined the week’s engagements.
Summarising the week’s programme, Faleye said the visit began with an examination of the evolution of social security administration in Nigeria, tracing the journey from the National Provident Fund through NSITF to the Employees’ Compensation Scheme established under the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010, followed by exchanges on institutional governance, policy evolution and the future direction of social security in both countries, and a deep dive into the operational backbone of the scheme, covering employer registration, compliance management and contribution assessment, with discussion centred on employers’ legal obligations, compliance strategies, assessment methodologies and technology’s role in strengthening transparency and accountability. Speaking for the Gambian delegation, its leadership said they are eager to learn from NSITF’s experience and want to strengthen areas of research where they currently lag, adding that the exchange could ultimately benefit Nigeria as well, and extended an invitation for NSITF to visit the Gambia in return.
