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NSITF wants Employees Compenstion Scheme for all casual construction workers
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF has called for a joint taskforce with the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) to ensure that all casual workers in the sector are covered by the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).
Delivering keynote address at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Federation today in Abuja, the Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye frowned at the situation where thousands of casual workers in the construction industry are left outside the coverage of the ECS with the attendant consequence of abandonment in the event of workplace accidents or death. He described it as a dire anti-worker situation, which poses a huge risk to the foundation of safety in the world of work.
He said, “I want to bring your attention to an issue that requires our immediate and collective action, and that is the coverage of casual workers under the ECS.
“Currently, our practice ensures that contract staff are covered by the ECS. But what about our casual workers? These individuals face the same risks, breathe the same dust, and contribute equally to the progress of our projects. Yet, they stand outside the protective umbrella of our scheme. This disparity is not just unfair; it’s a risk to the very foundations of safety we’re trying to build.
“I therefore call for change. The NSITF is open to finding solutions, but we need your help, your expertise, and your commitment. We want FOCI to partner with us in developing strategies to ensure that all construction workers – regardless of their employment status – are adequately covered by the ECS.
“This is not just about compliance; it’s about values. It’s about recognizing the worth and dignity of every individual who contributes to building our nation. It’s about living up to the ideals that we, as industry leaders, profess to uphold.
“I propose that we form a joint task force between NSITF and FOCI to tackle this issue head-on. Let’s explore innovative solutions – perhaps a flexible premium structure or a pooled resource model. Our management team is ready to sit down with you, to listen, to brainstorm, and to implement practical solutions that work for everyone.”
In a statement Thursday, Nwachukwu Godson, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, quoted Faleye to have stated that steps must be taken to protect the dignity and safety of every individual worker as a pivotal requirement in building a resilient national workforce. Faleye also described the ECS as a safety net and springboard, fostering a culture of workplace responsibility while encouraging best practices in occupational health.
He further charged all construction companies to improve the safety and health standards of their workers, saying that the unenviable record of preventable workplace accidents in the sector cannot be ignored.
“The construction sector, along with manufacturing, has historically held an unenviable record of preventable work accidents in Nigeria. This is a stark reality we can no longer ignore. Our records at NSITF show that a disproportionate number of our interventions for accident victims and work-related fatalities come from these sectors.”
He therefore urged the sector to apply cutting-edge factors that influence the dynamics of safety and health in their operations.
Meanwhile, the NSITF has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
The Managing Director, Oluwaseun Faleye, stated this during a courtesy visit by the Director General of NECA, Mr. Adewale Smart Oyerinde, at the headquarters of the Fund , Wednesday.
Mr. Faleye pledged to expand all ongoing initiatives, including the flagship Safe Work Intervention Project, which aims to reward best safety practices and improve workplace safety across Nigeria.
He noted that stronger ties between the two institutions are critical in advancing labour relations and social security for Nigerian workers.
He further acknowledged the pivotal role of NECA as a tripartite partner in the management board of the NSITF, noting that the symbiotic relationship between the two institutions has been pivotal in promoting workplace safety as a basic factor in optimizing national productivity, further commending NECA for providing stability to the national economy.
“I applaud NECA’s consistency in pushing the cause of employers especially on issues relating to inflation, interest rate and the high energy cost and other issues key to the employers. We appreciate this because, for us as much as we are interested in the social safety net that we provide from our mandate, we also need businesses to thrive; we need businesses to be alive to employ. It’s in that process that we are also able to execute our mandate.”
Mr. Oyerinde, in his response, commended NSITF’s leadership under Mr. Faleye, noting that NECA’s partnership with the Fund is vital for ensuring sustainable employment relations.
“We will continue to engage, but I wish to first congratulate you on this important appointment. This is a very big time in the life of all of us, in the life of businesses and the survival of the fund as it were. We are fully committed to working with the NSITF to make sure that every worker in Nigeria has access to a safe and secure work environment,” he said.
He also reaffirmed NECA’s dedication to supporting the Fund’s initiatives aimed at reducing workplace risks, enhancing employer compliance, and improved safety standards.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN has disclosed that over 30,000 of its members are set to buy Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in bulk.
IPMAN also revealed that the price of petrol from the refinery was N940/litre and N990/litre when purchased using ships and trucks, respectively.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, IPMAN President, Abubakar Garima, said the pump prices of petrol at its retail outlets will drop following the agreement with the Dangote refinery to lift products directly from the plant.
On Monday, IPMAN agreed with the Dangote refinery to directly lift petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products.
This agreement follows months after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation suspended its plan to serve as the sole off-taker of petroleum products from the 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
The IPMAN president explained that the Dangote refinery had been obliged to allow marketers to lift PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for onward supply to their depots and retail outlets but didn’t reveal the price.
Giving an update on pricing during the interview, the IPMAN national officer said the Refinery has provided two different rates for marketers based on their preferences.
He said marketers can load at the gantry at a price of N990 per litre or N940 through vessel transportation.
Garima said, “Presently, we have been given two different arrangments on how to buy fuel from the refinery. There is the one that we can load the vessels and carry to our various depots at the rate of N940 per litre. Then for the depots, it is at the rate of N990 per litre.
“The difference is because we have to load it and carry it to another part of the state. We use vessels to carry these products and there is another one to load from the gantry.
“For Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar, we have to use vessels because there is no Dangote loading gantry there, we have to carry it to our private depot and discharge and distribute it to our members.”
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the reinstatement of 23 health workers previously suspended for absence from their duty posts at Gwoza General Hospital.
This decision was announced during the Governor’s inspection of the hospital’s newly renovated maternity and child center, as well as other ongoing projects.
Dauda Iliya, Spokesperson and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, in a statement Tuesday, said the health workers had initially been suspended after Zulum’s earlier visit, where he found them absent from their duties.
Addressing the staff, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of dedication to work and assured them of improved working conditions and other incentives.
“Complaints were made about the 23 medical workers who were absent during my last visit,” he noted. “No one is perfect, so the government has pardoned them, although no arrears will be paid.”
In response to a staff shortage raised by the Principal Medical Officer of Gwoza General Hospital, Dr Nuhu Nasiru Wakawa, Governor Zulum directed the immediate deployment of four additional doctors and ten nurses to the facility.
He further announced that Gwoza General Hospital will be upgraded to support training for nursing students from the new school of nursing under construction.
“The Commissioner of Health, together with the Chief Medical Director of the Hospitals Management Board, will work on this deployment,” Zulum added. “We will also recruit community health workers from Gwoza to strengthen local healthcare services.”
In addition to his healthcare initiatives, Governor Zulum inspected the crusher plant base under construction in Pulka, which will produce up to 300 tonnes of stones per hour.
He said the completion of the crushing and asphalt plants is expected to facilitate new road networks across Borno State.
The Governor also visited other development sites, including the 500-unit mass housing project in Wala B, Gwoza Local Government Area, and a proposed site for a high Islamic school in Bama, underscoring his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and educational advancement.
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has secured an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly.
IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this at an ongoing press briefing on Monday in Abuja, following a meeting of the National Working Committee of the Association.
He said the partnership would ensure a steady, affordable supply of PMS products nationwide.
“After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.”
Garima urged IPMAN members to support Dangote Refinery, citing the benefits of backward integration and its positive impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.
“IPMAN members should rely on Dangote Refinery and Nigerian refineries for white products, creating more job opportunities and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.”
The latest development concludes several months of negotiations between both parties and is expected to increase efficiency, affordability, and economic growth.
The Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe, has already commenced the production of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, with plans to supply products to over 30,000 IPMAN members and 150,000 retail outlets nationwide.
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