Wednesday, 3 June 2015

Lawmakers Commend NSITF Strides by Benjamin Etuk



Image result for nsitf logo
Some members of the House of Representatives in Abuja yesterday commended the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund NSITF and its management for its strides in ensuring that Nigerian workers have a safe workplace. The members who are outgoing , said the employees compensation act was what the Nigerian workers need to be better mobilized to perform.
The lawmakers who spoke separately to Parliamentary Info said what the present management of the fund has achieved will remain indelible. A member of the House Hon. Sanda Ngamdu from Borno state said it is important that Nigerians understand the impact which the ECA will have on the morale of the Nigerian workers whom he said have been very demoralized as a result of lack of care even after suffering injuries at their place of work. He said what is important is that the employers of labour in the country must ensure that they comply with the Act. The lawmaker said the problem of the country is not in making laws but in complying with the laws made. He said as a member of the next assembly he will ensure that laws made by the National Assembly are strictly complied with.
Another member of the House who craved anonymity said the employee’s compensation act which is an initiative of the present management of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund will be of benefit to the Nigerian workers and their families who most times are left seething in frustration due to pains of rejection after suffering from injuries at their work place. He said a situation whereby the Nigerian worker is left without compensation from injuries they suffer while at work is bad. He said it is imperative that the management of the board is giving the thumbs up for this particular stride. Asked if he thinks the Nigerian employers of labour can comply with this act, he said it is left for the management to device ways of ensuring compliance. He stressed that the Act that sets up the ECA has made provisions for its compliance.
It should be noted that the National Assembly had passed the Employees Compensation Act and it was accented by the former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The ECA intends to compensate Nigerian workers from injuries they suffer at their work place or in the course of their work. The Chairman of the board Dr. Ngozi Olejeme recently while speaking on the ECA said it provides employees in the country whether in private or public not minding the nationality of such worker who is injured in the course of performing his or her job, the opportunity of being compensated. The benefits include wage loss benefit for total or partial disability, monetary benefits for permanent injuries. It also has provisions for medical benefits and rehabilitation.
It should be noted that this commendation is not the first time the management of the board has been commended for this initiative. Speaking to newsmen during the last workers day, some workers had praised the NSITF for the ECA also.

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