The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has pledged sustained technical support and deeper institutional partnership with the Gambia to strengthen social protection and workers’ welfare across West Africa.
This is contained in a statement signed and issued on Sunday in Abuja by Ms Alexandra Mede, Head of Corporate Affairs, NSITF.
Mede said the assurance followed the successful conclusion of a week-long study tour by the Board of the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund (IICF), Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) of The Gambia.
She quoted the Managing Director of NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye to have said that the Fund remained committed to sharing technical expertise, operational experience and best practices with its Gambian counterpart.
Faleye, represented by the Executive Director, Administration, Mr Samaila Abdu, described the collaboration as a partnership between sister institutions pursuing stronger social protection systems within the West African sub-region.
“NSITF will continue to support the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund under the SSHFC by sharing technical knowledge, exchanging experiences and providing guidance wherever we can.
“We see this as a partnership between brothers working together toward the common goal of strengthening social protection and advancing the welfare of workers across our sub-region,”he said.
He assured the delegation that the relationship would extend beyond the study visit, expressing optimism that both institutions would sustain cooperation through continuous engagement and mutual learning.
“This relationship does not end with today’s closing ceremony. Rather, it marks the beginning of an even stronger partnership between our two institutions,”he said.
Faleye appreciated the Gambian delegation for selecting NSITF as the destination for the study visit, describing the decision as recognition of Nigeria’s growing role in social security administration.
He said both organisations exchanged practical experiences on employment injury compensation, institutional governance, compliance strategies, claims administration and digital transformation throughout the week-long engagement.
According to him, discussions also focused on rehabilitation programmes, research, actuarial planning, evidence-based policy development and technology-driven service delivery under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.
“Beyond the presentations and technical sessions, what has been most rewarding has been the quality of our interactions. We have engaged in frank discussions, asked important questions and learned from one another,” he said.
Faleye welcomed the invitation for NSITF to visit The Gambia to observe reforms inspired by lessons from the study tour, promising that the Fund would give the invitation due consideration.
He said effective social security administration required continuous learning, innovation and collaboration, stressing that both institutions remained committed to strengthening workers’ protection across the sub-region.
The leader of the Gambian delegation, Mr Lamine Camara, commended NSITF for the knowledge shared during the study tour.
Camara, who is also the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Employment in The Gambia, said the delegation was eager to apply lessons from Nigeria’s experience to improve research, capacity development and social security administration.
“We are eager to learn from the NSITF experience. We also want to improve the areas of research where we are behind, and this collaboration will help strengthen our institution.
“We also use this opportunity to invite NSITF to visit us in The Gambia, and we are very happy ”he said.
