The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fully enroll their employees into the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), signaling a significant step towards enhancing social protection for public servants.
The directive was disclosed following a high-level meeting in Abuja between the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) management team, led by Managing Director Oluwaseun Faleye, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack.
According to a statement by NSITF, the Fund will begin a comprehensive sensitization campaign across federal agencies to ensure a seamless rollout.
Mrs. Walson-Jack pledged full support to the NSITF and affirmed her office’s commitment to the nationwide sensitization effort. She described the ECS as a long-overdue but essential initiative, emphasizing the government’s readiness to integrate the scheme into its wider civil service welfare framework.
Faleye acknowledged Walson-Jack’s leadership and reaffirmed the NSITF’s dedication to its statutory mandate of providing compensation for work-related injuries, disabilities, diseases, and deaths. He highlighted the role of the Fund in the ongoing Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025 (FCSSIP2025), noting that NSITF’s focus was on expanding and fully executing social protection programs.
“What was key for us during the strategy sessions under FCSSIP2025 was how to sustainably implement and expand existing initiatives that had yet to be fully executed,” Faleye said. “We committed to doing everything within our sphere of influence to make those initiatives a reality.”
He further praised President Bola Tinubu for supporting the ECS by directing the settlement of the Federal Government’s financial obligations under the scheme. While some payments have been made, discussions are ongoing with the Ministries of Budget and Finance to clear outstanding liabilities.
“Considering the size of the federal civil service, there is no better platform to positively impact workers’ welfare,” Faleye added. “It is now imperative to launch a sustained sensitization campaign to educate workers about the scheme’s benefits and claims process.”
Mrs. Walson-Jack, in her response, recalled earlier efforts to implement the ECS and lauded the renewed commitment to finally operationalize the scheme. “This is another feather in the cap of the administration’s welfare initiatives,” she said, also expressing gratitude to President Tinubu.
She highlighted other government welfare initiatives such as the Group Life Assurance Scheme, wage increases, and the recent disbursement of wage award arrears. “This office remains deeply committed to the welfare of civil servants,” she assured.
What you should know
The Federal Government has ordered MDAs to enroll all civil servants in the Employees’ Compensation Scheme by 2025. The ECS provides compensation for job-related injuries, disabilities, or death.
A nationwide sensitization campaign, led by NSITF in partnership with the Head of Civil Service, will guide public workers through the process.
