The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
NSITF Managing Director Oluwaseun Faleye made the commitment during a courtesy visit of NECA Director General Adewale-Smart Oyerinde to the headquarters of the Fund in Abuja on Wednesday.
Faleye also pledged to expand all ongoing initiatives, including the flagship Safe Work Intervention Project, which aimed to reward best safety practices and improve workplace safety across Nigeria.
He noted that stronger ties between the two institutions were critical in advancing labour relations and social security for Nigerian workers.
“I applaud NECA’s consistency in pushing the cause of employers especially on issues relating to inflation, interest rate and the high energy cost and other issues key to the employers.
“We appreciate this because for us, as much as we are interested in the social safety net that we provide from our mandate, we also need businesses to thrive.
“We need businesses to be alive to employ. It’s in that process that we are also able to execute our mandate, “ he said.
He further acknowledged the pivotal role of NECA as a tripartite partner in the management board of the NSITF.
He noted that the symbiotic relationship between the two institutions had been pivotal in promoting workplace safety as a basic factor in optimising national productivity, further commending NECA for providing stability to the national economy.
In his remarks, Oyerinde commended NSITF’s leadership, noting that NECA’s partnership with the Fund was vital for ensuring sustainable employment relations.
“We will continue to engage, but I wish to first congratulate you on this important appointment.
“This is a very big time in the life of all of us, in the life of businesses and the survival of the fund as it were.
“We are fully committed to working with the NSITF to make sure that every worker in Nigeria has access to a safe and secure work environment,” Oyerinde said.