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NSITF/NASS End Retreat with renewed Synergy to Reform NSITF
The two-day retreat organized by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to acquaint the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Labour and Employment with the workings of the NSITF ended Friday in Lagos with a resolution for a stronger legislative collaboration to reposition the agency.
In a statement, the NSITF General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nwachukwu Godson said the new Managing Director of the agency, Oluwaseun Faleye had earlier delivered well-articulated roadmap termed “NSITF Strategic Priorities 2024 -2027” to the members of the National Assembly Committee. In seeking their buy-in to his vision, the Managing Director outlined the strategic objectives of the Fund under 5 key pillars to be as follows:
a. Strengthening governance and oversight; managing stakeholders’ engagement; ensuring transparency and accountability in respect of the Fund’s activities as well as developing extensive monitoring and evaluation framework throughout the Fund;
b. transforming NSITF and improving service delivery nationwide with competent and equipped frontline workers;
c. increased coverage of public and private sector beneficiaries particularly focusing on the informal sectors to meet their evolving needs;
d. continuously adapting benefits and services of the Fund to meet the changing needs of beneficiaries, while ensuring that the Fund remains relevant and effective; and
e. optimizing and refining investment strategies, managing risks and growing the Fund’s assets in line with its liabilities.
In their robust contributions, the members of the Committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives urged the management of the Fund to work hard to bring all public sector employees under the Employee Compensation Scheme given its social benefits and its impact on economic productivity. Members advised the management of the Fund to engage with relevant agencies to ensure that ESC deductions for Treasury Funded agencies and non-treasury funded agencies are deducted and remitted to NSITF as at when due.
Another key issue brought up is the matter of classifying NSITF as a revenue generating agency. The management and members of the Committees agreed that being a Trust Fund, NSITF is not a revenue generating agency, and should therefore be removed from the Schedule I of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. It was noted that if achieved, this will exempt the NSITF from the mandatory 50% revenue deduction by the Ministry of Finance, thereby allowing the full utilization of its funds for its intended beneficiaries.
With respect to its service delivery, it was resolved that it is critical for NSITF to undertake a digital transformation of its core functions, departments and programs as well as implement an electronic record system to improve service delivery and show transparency.
In alignment with the Management’s plans, the Committee urged the Fund to embark on extensive advocacy to enable Nigerians better understand the criticality of the mandate of NSITF and the benefits that could accrue to employees if their employers subscribe to the Scheme should there be any injury, sickness, death or disability arising from work related activities.
The retreat which was well attended by all members of the Senate and House Committees on Labour and Employment concluded with a communique which resolved amongst other resolutions, to forge a stronger collaboration between the NSITF and the National Assembly that would foster an NSITF that can implement its mandate of providing a social safety net for Nigerian workers in both the public and private sectors.
Reacting to the success of the retreat, the Senate Committee Chairman on Labour and Employment, Senator Diket Plang said “I am highly delighted because the robust engagement we have had at this retreat. The new vision for NSITF presented by the Managing Director further gives me confidence that the President has made a great choice in appointing the new leadership for the Fund. I have no doubt that NSIFT is in good hands and will grow in leaps and bounds, satisfying the yearning of Nigerians. On our part, we shall do everything within our legislative sphere of influence to aid their success.”
His counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Adegboyaga Adefarati, enthused, “this is one of the best retreats I have ever attended. If you look around, all of us from the House Committee on Labour are here. Despite the fact that House is on recess, we have however taken our time to attend this very important retreat. From the presentations, no one is in doubt that the Managing Director has the capacity, character, and competence to build a stronger NSITF. What is left is to give him every support to succeed”.
The Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh capped the remarks when he said, “from what you have presented to us this morning – all within one month of your resumption, it is obvious to all that you have a firm grip of your responsibilities in the NSITF.”
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NiMet DG Anosike urges service providers to move beyond institutional compliance to measurable impacts on citizens
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has called on public institutions to move beyond regulatory compliance and certifications to delivering measurable results that create lasting value for citizens.
The DG/CEO of NiMet, who was represented by the Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Engr. Hamid Olayinka Abdulkareem, made the call during his keynote address at the 3rd National Quality Improvement Summit and Awards, organised by the Quality Improvement Institute of Nigeria (QIIN) in Abuja on Thursday 12 November 2026. Speaking on the theme, “Quality: Powering Performance – Moving Beyond Compliance to Measurable Results,” Professor Anosike emphasised that institutional credibility must be earned through consistent service delivery, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.
Highlighting NiMet’s commitment to international quality standards, the DG/CEO disclosed that the Agency secured ISO 9001:2015 certification for aeronautical meteorological services at Yola, Osubi and Owerri airports in July 2026, alongside the successful recertification of five other airports, bringing its total number of QMS-certified airport stations to eight. He stressed that quality assurance in meteorological services is critical to aviation safety, agricultural productivity, disaster preparedness and national economic development.
Professor Anosike further highlighted the integration of the Balanced Scorecard Performance Management System into NiMet’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan as a significant step towards strengthening institutional accountability. He explained that the framework connects strategic objectives with measurable performance indicators, ensuring that organisational success is assessed not merely by activities undertaken but by results achieved and value delivered.
He urged institutions to invest in people, technology and stakeholder partnerships while embedding quality management into their organisational culture. According to him, sustainable institutional excellence requires leadership commitment, continuous evaluation and a deliberate shift from procedural compliance to measurable public impact.
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Joint Aviation Unions Appoint Keyamo Grand Patron of Renewed Hope Support Group, Present ITF Position Paper Ahead of ICAO Conference
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, today received a high-powered delegation of aviation labour unions under the Joint Aviation Trade Union Forum (JATUF), led by its Chairman, Comrade Ben Nnabue, in Abuja.
The delegation comprised top executives of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and other aviation unions, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP). The unions are affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
Other members of the delegation included Comrade John Ogbe, Vice Chairman; Comrade Alale Adedayo, Vice Chairman; Group Captain Bunmi Gandeh, Vice Chairman; and Comrade Hector Nnadi, Secretary of the Forum.
The visit was primarily to formally present the position paper of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to the Minister, seeking Nigeria’s support for a motion advocating the integration of social sustainability, decent work and meaningful workers’ engagement into the global civil aviation framework at the forthcoming Seventh Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf7) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), scheduled to hold in Montreal, Canada, from November 16 to 20, 2026.
According to Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser to the Hon. Minister on Media and Communications, the proposed motion, which has received Nigeria’s nod, underscores the need for the international aviation community to recognise that the sustainability and long-term success of civil aviation go beyond infrastructure development, technological advancement and economic growth to include the welfare, rights and professional development of the workforce that sustains the industry.
The unions stressed that the future of international civil aviation must be built on a framework that balances economic competitiveness with social responsibility, recognising aviation workers as indispensable stakeholders in the growth, safety and efficiency of the industry.
The Minister’s reception of the position paper further demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to constructive engagement with organised labour and the promotion of policies that strengthen the aviation sector while protecting the interests of its workforce.
In a related development, the delegation also formally presented the Minister with an invitation to serve as Grand Patron of the Renewed Hope Aviation Support Group (RHASG), under the umbrella of the Strategic Collaboration for the Re-Election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
The nomination, made on behalf of the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council and entire membership of the organisation, recognises the Minister’s leadership, professional competence and capacity for strategic coordination.
The group congratulated Keyamo on his recent appointment as Director of the Directorate of Air Transport Mobilisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) re-election campaign, describing the appointment as a testament to the confidence reposed in his leadership abilities, organisational experience and commitment to effective mobilisation.
According to the group, the Minister’s wealth of experience in managing complex responsibilities, coupled with his strategic understanding of the aviation industry, makes him well-positioned to provide political leadership, guidance and direction to the organisation.
The appointment as Grand Patron is intended to strengthen the group’s strategic direction and consolidate support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his anticipated re-election bid.
The development marks another demonstration of the growing intersection between organised aviation labour, industry stakeholders and broader national development objectives, with the Minister continuing to engage stakeholders on issues that affect the growth, sustainability and future of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The Kano State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has appointed a former Kano State Chief of Staff, Gwani Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi, as Director-General of his 2027 governorship campaign.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, spokesperson to the NDC governorship candidate.
According to the statement, Gwarzo also named Alhaji Adamu Ali Ibrahim Kibiya as Secretary of the Campaign Directorate and Engr. Sunusi Usman Dambatta as Deputy Director-General.
Sagagi, a former Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry and ex-chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kano State, is expected to lead the campaign’s activities ahead of the 2027 election.
The appointments take immediate effect, while the full membership of the campaign council will be announced later.
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