By Kayode Araba
Thus, Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity on Monday held a one-day public hearing on the Nigeria Social Security Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 557), assuring stakeholders that their concerns and recommendations would be fully considered in shaping a stronger, more inclusive social security framework for Nigeria.
However, the chairman of the committee welcome the representatives of government agencies, labour unions, private sector organisations and civil society groups, describing the hearing as a critical step in strengthening workers’ compensation and welfare systems in the country.
Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau Central, underscored the importance of the public hearing to the Senate’s commitment to transparent and participatory lawmaking. He noted that such engagements provide experts and affected stakeholders the opportunity to make meaningful contributions toward refining legislation with far-reaching socio-economic impact.
The chairman focused on the content, naming and scope of the bill, particularly its proposal to consolidate the existing National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Act and the Employees’ Compensation Act under a single framework.
Furthermore, the sponsor of the bill, Senator Cyril Oluwole Fasuyi, representing Ekiti North, described the public hearing as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen labour protection and social security systems, stating that the bill is designed to reinforce existing protection mechanisms and ensure that labour institutions remain responsive to the evolving demands of a modern economy.
While acknowledging the foundational role of the Employees’ Compensation Act in providing support for workers who suffer occupational injuries, diseases or fatalities, Senator Fasuyi noted that its implementation has been hindered by persistent challenges. These include delays in benefit payments, high administrative costs, weak enforcement structures and limited penalties for non-compliant employers — problems that are even more acute in Nigeria’s large informal sector.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, who also addressed the gathering, commended the Senate for its inclusive approach. He affirmed that the National Assembly has the constitutional mandate to enact laws in the best interests of Nigerians, including those governing agencies that are not directly funded by the Federal Government.
The session attracted representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), civil society organisations and other actors in the labour and social protection ecosystem.
The outcome of the public hearing is expected to guide the committee’s recommendations to the Senate on whether the bill should be amended, withdrawn or redrafted to ensure the creation of a broader, more inclusive and effective social security architecture for all Nigerians.
