The Arewa Revival Project (ARP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order a comprehensive review of the leadership and operations of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), emphasizing the urgent need to protect workers’ contributions and strengthen transparency within the nation’s social insurance system.
The call was made in a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday by the Project Coordinator of ARP, Muttaka Ibrahim, who stressed that Nigerian workers deserve accountability, efficiency, and lawful management of funds contributed for their welfare.
Protecting Contributors’ Funds
Ibrahim underscored the importance of safeguarding contributors’ funds, describing it as critical to sustaining public trust in institutions responsible for social protection.
According to him, workers contributing to the NSITF must be reassured that their funds are being managed in strict compliance with legal provisions and global best practices.
“Nigerian workers and contributors to the NSITF deserve protection and reassurance that their funds are being managed in line with the law and best practices,” Ibrahim stated.
He added that decisive presidential intervention would reinforce the integrity of the NSITF and rebuild confidence in Nigeria’s social insurance framework.
Call for Transparency and Good Governance
The ARP maintained that its position is rooted in its broader advocacy for transparency, accountability, and good governance in public institutions, especially agencies directly tasked with workers’ welfare and social security administration.
The group also appealed to civil society organisations, labour unions, and relevant stakeholders to support ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring that social insurance institutions operate strictly within the law and in the best interest of contributors.
Role of the NSITF
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund is a statutory body responsible for implementing the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS). The scheme provides financial compensation and support to workers who suffer injuries, disabilities, or death in the course of employment.
According to ARP, continuous oversight, adherence to due process, and strong institutional governance are essential to ensuring that the NSITF effectively fulfills its mandate to Nigerian workers.
The group emphasized that strengthening institutional transparency will not only protect contributors but also enhance public confidence in Nigeria’s social protection system.
