By Danjuma Amodu | January 21, 2026
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) announced on Tuesday that it supported 142,576 beneficiaries between January and December 2025 while registering 7,754,883 employees from 197,938 employers across the country.
Speaking at the NSITF‑NECA “Safe Workforce Intervention Project (SWIP) 2025 Interactive Enlightenment Forum and Award Ceremony” in Lagos, Executive Director of Operations Mojisola Alli‑Macaulay said the agency conducted occupational safety and health (OSH) audits at 3,986 sites, investigated 814 incidents (including 23 fatalities) and delivered OSH awareness to 2,763 employers. She noted, however, that employer reluctance to comply, under‑declaration of staff and emoluments, delayed injury reporting and low public awareness of the Employers’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) continue to impede progress.
The NSITF’s 2025 performance review, presented at the joint NSITF‑NECA forum, detailed a total of 142,576 beneficiaries from January to December 2025. Of these, 64,423 were classified under disability, 51,933 were death cases, 14,087 received retirement benefits, 8,933 obtained medical expense refunds, 3,077 involved loss of productivity and further medical treatment (including 12 beneficiaries), and 111 cases involved the provision of prostheses.
Over the same period, 7,754,883 employees were registered from 197,938 agencies and employers.
Macaulay reported that the agency carried out OSH audits and inspections at 3,986 sites nationwide and conducted 814 incident investigations, which included 23 fatalities. She added that OSH awareness and sensitisation reached about 2,763 employers during the year. The NSITF has expanded its presence to all 36 states, operating through 13 regions and 62 branches.
She highlighted several challenges hindering the agency’s progress: employers’ unwillingness to comply with legislation, under‑declaration of employee emoluments and staff strength, delays in reporting injuries, and late submission of claims. Poor response from federal, state and local government tiers, as well as relatively low public awareness of the ECS despite ongoing sensitisation, were also noted.
Looking ahead, Macaulay said the NSITF will intensify employer onboarding and compliance enforcement across all tiers of government and the informal sector, deepen OSH advocacy and workplace safety monitoring, and expand digitalisation of operational processes for faster, seamless service delivery.
Strategic projections for the coming year include intensive public advocacy, extending safe‑workplace incentive programmes to additional sectors and states, and fostering continuous collaboration with NECA and other stakeholders to drive sustainable social protection through full ECS compliance.
On the sidelines of the event, NSITF Governing Board member Comrade Adewale Adeyanju commended the Managing Director for his commitment and innovation, describing the NSITF‑NECA collaboration as a positive signal for workers’ welfare. He noted that the board and management share a robust relationship in advocacy, advice and awareness and praised the management team’s proactivity under new leadership, stating that the programme has reawakened workers’ solidarity.
“What you are seeing today is a success story. We are not representing ourselves alone but all workers in Nigeria,” Adeyanju said.
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) was established under the Employees’ Compensation Act of 2010 to provide compensation for work‑related injuries, disabilities and deaths, and to promote occupational safety and health across the country. Over the past decade, the agency has grown its operational footprint to cover all 36 states, with regional offices and branch networks aimed at bringing services closer to employers and employees.
The introduction of the Employers’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) created a mandatory insurance pool funded by employer contributions intended to ensure prompt compensation for workers and to incentivise safer work environments. Despite notable achievements, such as the registration of millions of employees and the payment of thousands of claims, compliance remains uneven, particularly among small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises and in the informal sector.
Recent reforms have focused on digitalising claims processing, enhancing public awareness, and strengthening partnerships with organisations such as the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) to improve workplace safety culture and expand coverage. The 2025 results reflect both the progress made and the persistent challenges that the NSITF aims to address in its next phase of operations.
