The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has firmly rejected the Senate’s proposed amendments to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Act. This move is seen as an alarming attempt to politicize the management of workers’ social protection funds, according to a joint statement from key organizations including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
In a letter addressed to the Senate President, the OPSN warned that the amendments threaten transparency, accountability, and the foundational governance structure of the NSITF. They urged the Senate to halt the legislative process, which has already passed its second reading.
The statement highlighted that the NSITF was established on a tripartite structure involving government, employers, and labor, in compliance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions that Nigeria has ratified. The proposed changes risk reducing the representation of employers and workers, increasing government control through political appointments.
The OPSN emphasized that the integrity of the NSITF management must remain intact, warning that any politicization would undermine the trust and security of millions of Nigerian workers and their families. They criticized the Senate for prioritizing amendments to the NSITF while the Nigeria Labour Law Bill, critical for improving labor and employment laws, remains stalled.
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to intervene and ensure that the governance of the NSITF remains rooted in transparency and accountability, aligned with international best practices. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening institutions that protect the welfare of Nigerian workers, emphasizing that the future of industrial peace and social protection depends on resisting any attempts to compromise the NSITF’s integrity.
