BY CAROLINE AMEH
Abuja: The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish a unified social security framework aimed at strengthening worker protection across the country.
The bill, which was first read on September 25, 2024, proposes the repeal of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Act and the Employees Compensation Act. It seeks to harmonize existing laws and eliminate duplication of functions within Nigeria’s social protection system.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, the sponsor, Senator Oluwole Cyril (Ekiti North), explained that the proposed legislation would create a more efficient and inclusive structure for managing social security in the country.
He said the bill would ensure effective protection for employees in both the formal and informal sectors against workplace injuries, disabilities, unemployment, retirement, and other social risks.
Supporting the bill, Senators Simon Lalong, Diket Plang (Plateau Central), and Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) commended the initiative, noting that although the current social insurance system provides benefits such as medical expenses, disability payments, and survivor benefits, it has been plagued by challenges including delayed disbursement of benefits and poor employer compliance.
They emphasized that the proposed law would strengthen enforcement mechanisms, improve accountability, and guarantee prompt and fair compensation for workers and their dependents.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Committee on Employment, Labour, and Productivity for further legislative action.
The committee is expected to report back to the Senate within four weeks.
The proposed Unified Social Security Bill is viewed as a crucial step toward modernizing Nigeria’s labour protection framework and ensuring sustainable, equitable social security coverage for all categories of workers.