The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and South Africa’s Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) have commenced a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening social protection systems, workers’ compensation administration, and occupational safety standards across Africa.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSITF, Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, disclosed this on Tuesday while hosting a high-level delegation from RMA, led by its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bilal Adam, at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja.
Faleye described the visit as the beginning of a mutually beneficial and enduring relationship between two of Africa’s foremost social insurance institutions, united by a shared commitment to advancing workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, and social security administration on the continent.
He praised RMA’s longstanding legacy, noting that the South African institution, established in 1894, has evolved from a specialized compensation scheme for the mining sector into a modern social insurer focused on prevention, rehabilitation, care, and shared value creation.
According to him, collaboration and knowledge exchange remain critical to the future of social protection, particularly as changing workplace realities and emerging occupational risks demand more innovative and responsive systems.
Faleye said the partnership would provide opportunities for both organizations to share experiences, compare best practices, and explore new approaches to addressing challenges in the world of work.
He identified key areas of potential collaboration to include digital transformation, claims administration, occupational health and safety, rehabilitation and return-to-work programmes, capacity building, research, and policy development.
“Nigeria and South Africa are two of Africa’s leading economies, and our institutions have a unique responsibility to provide leadership and champion best practices that will strengthen social protection systems throughout the continent,” he stated.
The NSITF boss also reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to strengthening the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), describing it as a vital social protection mechanism that guarantees compensation, rehabilitation, and support for workers who suffer workplace injuries, occupational diseases, disabilities, or death in the course of employment.
He noted that the scheme remains one of Nigeria’s most important social security interventions, providing medical care, rehabilitation services, compensation benefits, and support for affected workers and their dependants.
Faleye stressed that NSITF is focused on building a modern and responsive compensation system through improved digital processes, efficient claims management, workplace safety initiatives, rehabilitation programmes, and policy reforms.
He added that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme not only protects workers and their families but also offers employers a sustainable framework for managing workplace liabilities.
Expressing optimism about the partnership, Faleye revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be drafted for ratification and signing by the NSITF Management Board, laying the foundation for long-term cooperation between both organizations.
He said the agreement would strengthen institutional ties and contribute to the development of safer workplaces, stronger social insurance institutions, and a more resilient social protection system for workers across Africa.
The visit will also feature a series of technical engagement sessions during which both organizations are expected to exchange experiences and identify practical areas of cooperation to advance their shared objectives.
