Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubura, has advised governors to use the Employees’ Compensation Scheme to fight corruption in their states.
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) is projecting the Tinubu Government positively through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, he said.
“One way or fighting corruption is for the State to key in into the Employees’ Compensation Scheme”, he said, adding that corruption “is fuelled by the fear of what happens to the individual when they are no longer able to work.”
Governor Fubara stated these when he received the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Fund, Barrister Oluwaseun Mayomi Faleye, and his team of of in his office on Wednesday.
He emphasized the import of an institution such as NSITF that could allay workers’ fear of the future and also give hope to the people.
Welcoming Barrister Faleye, Fubara thanked him for bringing the Employees Compensation Scheme to the notice of the Rivers State Government.
He said:“The good work of NSITF, through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, is projecting the Federal Government in a very positive light. In fact, it is a gift to Nigerian workers and everyone who has keyed into the Scheme.”
He also assured that Rivers State would embrace the Scheme.
He said, “We are trying in our little ways to improve the fortune of our workers. We will take it as a matter of priority to ensure we subscribe to the Employees’ Compensation Scheme managed by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund”
He expressed excitement that the “Scheme is working and catering for the needs of injured and disabled workers as well as families of deceased ones,” vowing that “…nothing will stop us from working towards subscribing to the Scheme.”
In his address, the MD NSITF, Barrister Olúwaṣeun Faleye thanked the Governor for the warm reception.
He explained his mission in Rivers State was to present cheques to beneficiaries under the ECS and solicit the Governor’s support for the Scheme.
“We are here in Rivers State to present cheques to some private sector employees who are beneficiaries of the Scheme. We are also here to solicit for your support in ensuring that the River State Government subscribes to the Employees’ Compensation Scheme in the bid to improve the State workers’ welfare,” the MD stated.
“River State keying into the scheme will be a trailblazer. Rivers can be the leading light of the ECS in the South-South Region,” he solicited.
Explaining the Scheme to Governor Fubara, Faleye said, “we are mandated by law to implement the ECS in the case of death, injury or diseases that may occur in the course of work. It is instructive to note that our compensation goes on for some while to provide social safety net for employees.
“In the same vein, it offers a lot economic benefits to the State and its workforce as the Scheme builds resilience in the workforce ecosystem thereby contributing to economic productivity”.
He implored Governor Fubara to make NSITF compliance certificate a prerequisite for doing business with the State Government, a suggestion which the Governor readily accepted, noting that Rivers State will start by ensuring that the contractor undertaking its Government Secreatriat renovations complies to the ESC.
The Head of Service to the State Civil Service, the Secretary to the State Government were in attendance at the courtesy visit.