In a decisive move to strengthen social protection programs for civil servants, the Federal Government has reinforced inter-agency cooperation between key welfare institutions.
The commitment was highlighted during a strategic sensitization workshop designed for Desk Officers from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). The event, themed ‘Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Practice in Implementing the NHIA Act 2022 and the Employees’ Compensation Act,’ aimed to enhance understanding and effective application of these legislative frameworks.”
Declaring the workshop open in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office (SWO), in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, expressed appreciation to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, for her visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to promoting innovative and inclusive welfare programmes across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
She described NHIA and NSITF as critical institutions within Nigeria’s evolving social protection ecosystem—NHIA focusing on access to affordable healthcare, and NSITF providing compensation for workplace-related injuries and disabilities. She emphasized the importance of strong inter-agency collaboration to eliminate systemic inefficiencies and enhance policy implementation across service delivery points.
Mrs. Oyekunle noted that Desk Officers are frontline actors in interpreting and executing civil service welfare policies. However, knowledge gaps and inconsistencies in the application of procedures have posed significant challenges. She explained that the workshop was designed to build capacity in areas such as documentation, data management, inter-agency coordination, and service accountability.
The Permanent Secretary urged participants to go beyond procedural compliance and cultivate a deeper understanding of the NHIA Act 2022 and the Employees’ Compensation Act, stating, “Your actions or inactions directly influence how civil servants experience and trust government welfare schemes.”
While commending the leadership of NHIA and NSITF, as well as the facilitators, for their commitment to empowering Desk Officers with relevant knowledge and practical tools, she charged them to ensure that the workshop content remains engaging, evidence-based, and tailored to the operational realities of the public service.
In his welcome remarks, the Deputy Director and Head of the Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Department, OHCSF, highlighted the importance of the workshop as a strategic response to ongoing reforms within NHIA and NSITF.
He emphasized that informed and empowered Desk Officers are vital to ensuring effective implementation of social protection mandates at the MDA level.
He reiterated that reforms under the NHIA Act mark a significant step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage, while the NSITF continues to play a pivotal role in safeguarding workers’ rights and safety in alignment with international best practices.
Highlights of the presentations at the workshop include:
1.National Health Insurance Act 2022: Key Provisions, Implementation Strategies, and Desk Officers’ Roles(NHIA).
2. Understanding the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) and its Operational Guidelines (NSITF).
3.Importance of medical health checks to the Federal Civil servants.
4.The Employee Compensation Scheme (ECS) and the importance of onboarding Federal Civil servants.
5. Employee Wellness
6. Basic Life Support.
This sensitization workshop forms part of ongoing capacity-building efforts under the public sector reform agenda, aimed at enhancing transparency, operational efficiency, and citizen-focused service delivery within the Federal Civil Service.