Managing Director of NSITF, Barrister Olúwaṣeun Faleye, addressing lawyers at the NBA Annual Conference in Enugu, advocating compliance with the Employees’ Compensation Act. Photo credit: NSITF / NBA.
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), has challenged Nigeria’s legal community to take the lead in driving workplace safety and social protection by ensuring compliance with the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS).
Speaking at the 65th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Enugu, during a breakout session on “Enhancing Workplace Safety and Social Protection: The Role of Employees’ Compensation Act 2010,” Managing Director of tNSITF, Barrister Olúwaṣeun Faley, stressed that the successful implementation of the Act cannot rest solely on the fund but requires active involvement of lawyers, judges, and policymakers.
“The ECA lives and breathes through the work of the legal community. Beyond advocacy, the most crucial expectation we have of you is to lead by example. Every law firm in Nigeria must subscribe to the Employees’ Compensation Scheme,” Faleye said.
Compliance as Prerequisite for SAN Rank
IFaleye proposed that compliance with the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) be made a prerequisite for the conferment of the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title. He urged the NBA to include compliance checks in law firm inspections, just as it currently enforces pension obligations.
“The NBA must do more. Compliance with the Employees’ Compensation Act should be part of the documentation for taking silk. We cannot protect others while neglecting ourselves,” he noted.
Occupational Risks
Highlighting the occupational risks associated with legal practice, Faleye cited frequent work-related travel leading to accidents, back injuries from prolonged sitting during document reviews, and rising cases of mental health breakdowns. He lamented that despite these risks, many law firms in Nigeria are yet to comply with the ECS.
He linked social protection to human rights, stressing that as custodians of justice, lawyers must not only comply with the scheme but also educate corporate clients on its benefits.
Legal Community as Policy Influencers
Faleye further charged the legal profession to leverage its influence in shaping public policy. According to him, the NBA can serve as a bridge between policymakers and the workforce, ensuring workplace safety laws align with global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s realities.
He also emphasized the “pivotal role” of the judiciary, urging courts to adopt interpretations that uphold the worker-centered spirit of the ECA, rather than narrow technicalities that undermine its intent.
“The judiciary must guard against narrow technicalities that undermine the spirit of the law. Protecting human dignity must remain paramount,” Faleye concluded.
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