By Moses Akwashiki,
Abuja
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Oluwaseun Falaye, has said that the growing demand for a stronger and more responsive social protection system in Nigeria is no longer optional but inevitable.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 2026 International Social Security Association (ISSA) West Africa Technical Seminar in Abuja, Falaye noted the urgent need for a strategic shift in operations as policymakers, experts, and social security leaders gathered to rethink the future of worker protection in the region.
He identified Nigeria’s expanding population, youthful workforce, and rapidly evolving labour market—largely dominated by the informal sector—as key pressures making comprehensive social protection unavoidable.
“Nigeria’s context makes these conversations particularly urgent,” he said. “With a large and youthful population, a dynamic labour market, and one of the largest informal economies in Africa, the demand for responsive and strong social protection systems is undeniable.”
Reaffirming the mandate of the NSITF under the Employees’ Compensation Act of 2010, Falaye stressed that the Fund’s responsibility extends beyond policy frameworks to real-life impact.
“This mandate is not theoretical. It is about real people, real risks, and real consequences for families and communities,” he stated.
Against this backdrop, he revealed that the NSITF is undergoing a deliberate transformation aimed at modernising its operations and rebuilding public trust.
According to him, the Fund is transitioning from fragmented, paper-based processes to integrated digital systems designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.
“We are investing in platforms that enable faster claims processing, stronger data management, better actuarial planning, and more transparent engagement with employers and beneficiaries,” he said.
However, Falaye cautioned that digital transformation is not a quick fix but a continuous process requiring strong governance, skilled personnel, and robust cybersecurity systems.
“Digital transformation is not a one-off project. It demands institutional discipline, the right culture, and sustained commitment,” he added, noting that platforms like the ISSA seminar provide critical opportunities to learn, adapt, and avoid costly mistakes.
Welcoming participants from across West Africa and beyond, the NSITF boss described the gathering as more than a routine conference, but a shared mission to strengthen social security systems across the region.
“Nigeria welcomes you not merely as delegates, but as partners in a collective mission to ensure that our systems remain relevant, responsive, and worthy of public trust,”
He also recalled the 2025 ISSA Technical Session hosted in Conakry, Guinea, noting that it highlighted common regional challenges such as coverage gaps, informality, financing constraints, and the rapidly changing nature of work.
Quoting ISSA Secretary-General Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, Falaye emphasised that technology alone cannot guarantee public confidence.
“Social security systems earn trust not just by adopting technology, but by using innovation to strengthen governance, expand inclusion, and uphold human dignity,”.
Speaking on the seminar’s the meimproving inclusiveness and accessibility through effective communication—Falaye described accessibility, effectiveness, inclusiveness, and digitisation as key benchmarks for evaluating the performance of social security institutions.
“Accessibility challenges us to rethink how services reach workers outside formal structures. Effectiveness demands timely and predictable delivery of benefits, because delays erode trust. Inclusiveness requires that women, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, and informal workers are treated as central, not marginal, to our mandate,” he said.
While acknowledging the potential of digital tools, he stressed that their success depends on sound policy direction and a firm commitment to fairness.
He urged participants to engage in honest and solution-driven discussions during the two-day seminar, focusing on practical ways to strengthen governance, deploy technology responsibly, and improve outcomes for workers and employers across the region.
