The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund (IICF) of The Gambia have pledged to deepen institutional collaboration as both countries seek to strengthen social security systems and workers’ protection across West Africa.
The commitment was made at the close of a week-long study tour by the Gambian delegation to the NSITF headquarters in Abuja, where officials from both countries exchanged ideas on employment injury compensation, compliance, digital innovation and social security reforms.
Managing Director of NSITF, Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, said the partnership signalled a long-term commitment to building stronger social protection institutions in the sub-region through continuous knowledge sharing and technical cooperation.
Represented by the Executive Director Administration, Barr. Samaila Abdu, the MD said the relationship would extend beyond the study visit, with NSITF providing technical guidance and sharing best practices as The Gambia strengthens its employment injury compensation scheme.
He said: “We see this as a partnership between brothers, working together towards the common goal of strengthening social protection and advancing the welfare of workers across our sub-region.”
Faleye added that NSITF welcomed the invitation to visit The Gambia to observe how lessons from the Abuja engagement would be adapted within the country’s social security system.
According to him, both institutions recognised that effective social security administration requires continuous innovation, institutional learning and regional cooperation.
Faleye said discussions during the study tour covered the evolution of Nigeria’s social security system, institutional governance, employer compliance, contribution assessment, claims administration, rehabilitation of injured workers, actuarial planning, research and digital transformation.
He noted that the demonstration of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme Application (ECSA) showed how technology is improving compliance, transparency and service delivery within the Fund.
“We have shared experiences, exchanged ideas and explored practical approaches to strengthening the administration of employment injury compensation and social security.”
Responding on behalf of the Gambian delegation, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Employment, Lamine Camara, described the study tour as invaluable, saying it had exposed his country’s officials to practical strategies that would support ongoing reforms.
“We want to take this collaboration further in every area of social security. We are looking at improving capacity, particularly in research, where we still have gaps.”
Camara added that while The Gambia was keen to learn from Nigeria’s experience, it also looked forward to sharing its own experiences, stressing that stronger cooperation between both institutions would benefit workers in both countries and the wider West African region.