NSITF mulls compensation for victims of workplace accident

Pays N2b since inception

PLANS are underway by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to settle claims and compensation of workers that sustain injury in the workplace within 14 working days.

The Executive Director, Operations NSITF, Mrs Kemi Nelson, who stated this yesterday in Abuja at a workshop on the operationalization of 14 days timeline for claims processing, insisted that the feat is achievable.

She said: “Processing workplace injury claims within 14 working days is feasible if everyone is committed. What are doing is to encourage our staffers to device means of achieving the feat. I am optimistic that with the calibre of staff we have, pay- ing those that sustain injury in the workplace within 14 is doable.”

She hinted that the informal sector is being gradually integrated into the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS), saying, “we are making conscious efforts at ensuring that the informal sector is integrated into operation. We are planning to go into the market to meet market women and other critical stakeholders with a view to making them a part of the Scheme.”

Mrs Nelson, who warned defaulters against sabotaging the implementation of the scheme, submitted that NSITF would not hesitate to prosecute the recalcitrant companies.

On his part, Head, Claims and Compensation of NSITF, Chris Esedebe, said the 14-day timeline can be met once the necessary documentation is made.

His explanation: “Processing workplace injury claims within 14 working days is feasible. Once all the documents that are needed are complete and passed on to the regional office by the branch office, the 14 days countdown begins. It will move swiftly from the regional office to the Managing Director and then to the Executive Director Operation all within 24. We envisage that such claims will not be more than four days in the claims and compensation department and then to audit, finance and other relevant departments, down to payment and control.”