The Managing Director of NSITF, Barr. Adebayo Somefun, who made this known also declared that the Fund has paid N835 million to beneficiaries as claims and compensation.within the last one and half years.
Barr. Somefun who spoke during the NSITF Special Day at the Abuja International Trade Fair 2018; said the NSITF will henceforth enforce compliance with Employees Compensation Act (ECA).
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He said the Fund had already introduced a digital platform to ensure full compliance.
He said: “To make the process of keying into the scheme easier, the Fund has introduced a digital platform that is called Electronic Collection, Compliance and Compensation (EC4), to galvanise enforcement compliance, claims and compensation activities as well as the overall operations at the Fund.
“This enables employers to easily register, pay contributions, access their ECS status and make claims, all online and in real time from the comfort of their offices/ homes.”
He emphasised that every Nigerian worker deserves the best and must be made to have a sense of value.
“Let me state that when a worker knows that his future is secured in the case of injury while performing his functions, he/she has a deeper sense of commitment to the employer.
He pointed out that the core mandate of the NSITF was anchored on the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) as enshrined in the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) 2010.
The MD said: “The ECS basically provides social security for employees who sustain injuries in the course of employment or their dependants in the case of death: it further encourages occupational safety and health standards in the workplace.
“The contingencies covered by this unique scheme include compensation for injuries, mental stress, occupational diseases, hearing impairment, permanent or temporary disability and even vocational rehabilitation as well as covering for benefits of deceased employees whose families’ fortunes are upheld even after the passing away of their bread winners.
“All these have served as massive incentives for enhanced productivity and economic development as Nigerian workers are assured of a guaranteed livelihood.”
He said the Fund has been making giant strides and in the last one year alone, paid for 42 artificial limbs/parts to cater for workers who lost their limbs while carrying out their duties at work.
He said the 42 beneficiaries of the artificial limbs/parts are currently being fitted and trained on how to move on with their lives.
He stated further: “However, it is not only about the limbs, the Employees’ Compensation Scheme provides for other categories of benefits. Between January 2017 and June 2018, the Fund has paid N835, 318, 858, 62Kobo to beneficiaries as claims and compensation.”
These, according to him include the Health Medical Refund, N202.9 Million; the Death Benefit N261 Million; the Disability Benefit N74 Million; and the Loss of Productivity for employers, N8 Million, amongst others.
He explained that those who have benefitted from this special scheme include 298 injured employees placed on monthly or periodic payment.
He added: “In order to cushion the burden on families of deceased employees who died in the course of work, the Fund has paid forty-one (41) lump sums for accidents/diseases resulting in death of the employees and is currently paying 226 families monthly benefits, one of which receives N1.5 Million monthly.”
To key into the scheme and access the scheme; he said “the employer – government or private/individual is required to pay onIy one per cent (1%) of total payroll of the employees to the NSITF, and this is at no cost to the employee!
“Once that is done, it becomes the duty of NSITF to carry the burden which otherwise would have gone to the employer where there is a workplace injury, death or disability.”
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