The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, has warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, AI, automation, digital platforms and other emerging technologies could deepen social security vulnerabilities among Nigerian workers if urgent measures are not taken to expand existing protection systems.
The Fund expressed concern that changing employment patterns, particularly the growth of the gig economy, remote work and digital platforms, could create a new generation of economically active Nigerians who lack adequate social security protection.
It therefore called for a comprehensive approach to closing existing protection gaps, strengthening employer compliance and building a sustainable safety net that guarantees workers’ welfare, dignity and economic security in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, raised the concerns in his keynote address at the Labour Writers’ Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) Annual Workshop held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Lagos, on October 30, 2026.
The address, entitled: Social Security and Workers’ Welfare in Nigeria’s Political Transition: Closing the Protection Gaps and Building a Sustainable Safety Net, was presented on his behalf by Deputy General Manager and Head, Corporate Affairs Department, Alexandra Mede.
Faleye observed that while technological advancement was creating new economic opportunities, it was also raising critical questions about the protection of workers operating outside conventional employment arrangements.
He questioned who would be responsible for the welfare of workers engaged through digital platforms and how social security could be extended to people whose employment relationships no longer followed traditional patterns.
“How do we ensure that technological progress does not create a new generation of workers who are economically active but insufficiently protected?” he queried.
According to him, Nigeria must deliberately evolve its social protection systems to reflect the changing realities of the labour market and prevent emerging forms of employment from exposing workers to economic and occupational vulnerabilities.
The NSITF chief executive stressed that social security should not be viewed merely as an administrative or financial mechanism but as an investment in human dignity, social stability and economic resilience.
He explained that the essence of social protection was to safeguard workers and their families against unforeseen circumstances, including workplace injuries, disabilities, occupational accidents and the sudden loss of their principal breadwinner.
“At its heart, social security is about people. It is about the worker who suffers an injury in the course of employment. It is about the family that suddenly loses its principal breadwinner. It is about a worker whose ability to earn an income is affected by an occupational accident,” he said.
On the challenges confronting Nigeria’s social protection system, Faleye identified the exclusion of workers outside formal employment structures, inadequate integration of employers into social protection arrangements and insufficient awareness of available protection mechanisms as major areas of concern.
He maintained that closing the gaps would require more than legislation, stressing the importance of public awareness, compliance, accessibility, efficient institutions, reliable data and sustained collaboration among stakeholders.
He called for increased social security advocacy across workplaces, businesses, communities and emerging sectors of the economy rather than restricting such awareness to government offices and conference halls.
Faleye also highlighted the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) as a critical instrument for protecting employees against work-related injuries, disabilities and occupational hazards.
He described the scheme as a social compact involving employers, workers, workplaces and the wider society, noting that its effectiveness depended significantly on awareness and compliance.
According to him, employers must understand and fulfil their responsibilities, while workers must become sufficiently aware of their rights and the benefits available under the scheme.
He also charged institutions responsible for administering social protection programmes to continuously improve their efficiency, transparency and accessibility.
“The message must therefore be clear: Social protection is not simply a benefit to be discussed after a worker suffers an unfortunate incident. It is a system of preparedness and protection that should exist before the risk occurs,” he stated.
Speaking on the role of employers, Faleye said businesses were critical partners in building a sustainable social security system, adding that responsible employers must recognise workers’ protection as both a statutory responsibility and an essential element of sustainable enterprise.
He argued that compliance with social security obligations should not be regarded as a burden but as part of responsible corporate citizenship, which contributes to workplace stability, productivity and employee confidence.
He disclosed that NSITF would continue to engage employers, simplify processes, improve service delivery and deepen understanding of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.
The MD also identified the media, particularly labour journalists, as important partners in promoting workers’ welfare and strengthening public understanding of social security issues.
He urged members of LAWAN to go beyond reporting industrial disputes and take up the responsibility of interpreting labour policies and social protection issues in ways that ordinary Nigerians could understand.
Faleye encouraged labour writers to interrogate policies, ask critical questions, report accurately and educate workers about their rights while helping employers understand their obligations.
He noted that responsible labour journalism could contribute significantly to better industrial relations and stronger social protection by ensuring that relevant information reached the people who needed it.
On the relationship between political transition and workers’ welfare, Faleye maintained that the responsibility to protect workers must remain constant irrespective of changes in government or political administrations.
He said social security institutions must be built on principles of sustainability, accountability and responsiveness to ensure continuity in the delivery of protection to workers across generations.
According to him, workers should not have to worry about losing access to protection because of changes in political or administrative circumstances.
Looking towards the future, he identified digital and platform workers, informal-sector employees, technological disruption, occupational diseases, artificial intelligence and automation as emerging areas requiring deliberate attention in Nigeria’s social protection framework.
He emphasised that addressing these challenges would require collaboration among government institutions, employers, workers, organised labour, the media, technology experts, academia and development partners.
“No single institution can close Nigeria’s social-protection gaps alone,” he declared.
