The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has described the outing of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), at the 65th annual NBA Conference in Enugu, as an eye opener for many lawyers in the country, on the functions of the Fund, and the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).
In the same vein, the NBA commended the Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye-led management team for a very brilliant presentation at the conference.
Making these assertions when he led his team on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NSITF at the Corporate Headquarters of the Fund, Chairman of the NBA Gwagwalada Branch, Owhor Clever (Esq), praised the NSITF management for its excellent performance.
His words:" the NSITF outing at our 65th annual conference in Enugu was an eye opener for many lawyers in Nigeria on the functions of the Fund and ECA. The NSITF team to the conference deserves commendations for their brilliant presentations".
He however lamented that many workers had been left destitute due to workplace injuries for the reasons of lack of awareness.
Responding, the Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, again, called on lawyers in Nigeria to lend their influence with clients to advocate for compliance with the Employees' Compensation Act 2010.
Faleye, who was represented by the Executive Director Administration, Barrister Samaila Abdu, said lawyers "have a duty to advise clients as to how they can key in to the Employees' Compensation Scheme,” continuing that "we have a duty to ourselves and to our clients."
Coming on the heels of the just concluded 65th Annual Conference of the NBA in Enugu, the visit aimed at forging partnerships with the Fund on mutual areas of interest.
The MD revealed the Fund's plan to embark on visits to NBA branches to further raise awareness on the benefits of the ECS and the need for compliance. He promised the Fund would collaborate with the Gwagwalada Branch of the NBA on training, sensitization and other areas that could further enhance each organisation's goals and objectives.
He said "The Employees' Compensation Act 2010, emerged as a legal reform and moral commitment to take care of workplace injuries for those who have keyed into the scheme."
It would be recalled that NSITF boss presented the lead paper titled "Enhancing Workplace Safety and Social Protection:The Role of Employees' Compensation Act 2010" at the VI Breakout Session of the NBA Conference in Enugu.