The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has paid out claims and compensation totalling N142, 763, 022.81 as medical expenses, loss of productivity, disability and death benefits to 2, 858 Nigeria workers between January and March, this year.
An official communication from the NSITF explained that the payments, which cut across workers of various public and private sectors, were in line with the mandate of the Fund that obligates it to compensate employees who suffer workplace injuries, diseases or deaths.
The monies and other assistance were provided for in the NSITF flagship scheme known as the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) started in 2011.
A breakdown of the beneficiaries showed that 19 workers benefitted from the Medical Expenses Refund (MER) in January and 21 workers in February 2021; while Loss of Productivity (LOP) benefits were paid out to 11 workers in January and 13 in February.
Similarly, one employee’s next of kin was paid Death Benefit in January; and 1,056 others were paid in February 2021.
For Disability Benefits to incapacitated employees, five workers were compensated in January while 1, 319 beneficiaries were paid in February.
For the month of March, the total compensation paid out was N21, 592, 444.85 for 413 claimants, including 32 persons for medical expenses; 18 death benefits; 18 for disability benefits; 12 for loss of productivity; and pension for 328 disabled employees.
The NSITF promised not to relent in its efforts to provide succour to employees and their employers who do the right thing by complying with government’s regulations to make work and life easier for them.
Its managing director/chief executive, Dr. Kelly Nwagha, in his reaction to the development, reminded workers and employers that while advocating prevention through health and safety regulations in workplaces remained a priority, the Fund would always come through for them “when the inevitable happens.”
He, therefore, challenged those who were yet to register with the NSITF to do so, as it not only makes them patriotic corporate citizens, but boosts the productivity of their workers.
