The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has called for a joint taskforce with the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) to ensure all casual workers in the sector are covered by the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).
NSITF Managing Director Oluwaseun Faleye made the call at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Federation on Thursday in Abuja.
Falaye expressed dismay over the situation of thousands of casual workers in the construction industry where they were left outside the coverage of the ECS with the attendant consequence of abandonment in the event of workplace accidents or death.
He described it as a dire anti-worker situation, which posed a huge risk to the foundation of safety in the world of work.
“I want to bring your attention to an issue that requires our immediate and collective action, and that is the coverage of casual workers under the ECS.
“Currently, our practice ensures that contract staff are covered by the ECS; but what about our casual workers?
“These individuals face the same risks, breathe the same dust, and contribute equally to the progress of our projects, yet, they stand outside the protective umbrella of our scheme.
“This disparity is not just unfair; it is a risk to the very foundations of safety we’re trying to build, “ he said.
The MD said that steps must be taken to protect the dignity and safety of every individual worker as a pivotal requirement in building a resilient national workforce.
Faleye described the ECS as a safety net and springboard, fostering a culture of workplace responsibility while encouraging best practices in occupational health.
He charged all construction companies to improve the safety and health standards of their workers, saying that the unenviable record of preventable workplace accidents in the sector cannot be ignored.
“The construction sector, along with manufacturing, has historically held an unenviable record of preventable work accidents in Nigeria.
‘This is a stark reality we can no longer ignore; our records at NSITF show that a disproportionate number of our interventions for accident victims and work-related fatalities come from these sectors, “ he said.
