In a bid to deepen social protection and improve the welfare of federal civil servants, the Federal Government has intensified collaboration between the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
This move was spotlighted during a strategic sensitization workshop held in Abuja for Desk Officers drawn from the two key agencies. The workshop, with the theme “Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Practice in Implementing the NHIA Act 2022 and the Employees’ Compensation Act,” aimed at enhancing the effective application of relevant legislation in welfare service delivery.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office (SWO), Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, commended the leadership of the Head of Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for her commitment to inclusive and innovative welfare initiatives.
She described the NHIA and NSITF as critical pillars of Nigeria’s evolving social protection system—one focused on healthcare access, and the other on compensation for workplace injuries and disabilities. Mrs. Oyekunle stressed that fostering strong inter-agency partnerships is essential to overcoming systemic inefficiencies and ensuring smooth implementation of welfare policies.
According to her, Desk Officers are central to policy execution across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), but persistent knowledge gaps and procedural inconsistencies often hinder their performance. She said the workshop was aimed at building capacity in documentation, data management, coordination, and accountability.
“Beyond compliance with procedures, you must gain a deeper understanding of the NHIA Act and the Employees’ Compensation Act,” she charged participants. “The trust civil servants place in government schemes depends largely on how you execute your duties.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Director and Head of the Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment Department at the OHCSF emphasized the significance of the training as part of ongoing reforms to strengthen the NHIA and NSITF.
He noted that reforms under the NHIA Act are key to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), while the NSITF plays a vital role in promoting workplace safety in line with global standards.
Some of the key presentations at the workshop included:
Implementation strategies and provisions of the NHIA Act 2022.
Understanding and applying the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA).
The importance of regular medical checks for civil servants.
Onboarding processes for the Employee Compensation Scheme (ECS).
Employee wellness and mental health awareness.
Training on basic life support techniques.
The sensitization workshop forms part of broader public sector reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and citizen-focused service delivery in the civil service.
