General News
Why NIA is Opposed to Workmen’s Compensation under NSITF—Ladipo-Ajayi
Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, chairman of the Nigerian Insurers association, (NIA) has reiterated the association’s commitment to its stand that the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, is not competent to handle the workmen’s compensation for workers. According to him, their superior argument is hinged on truth and nothing but the truth. He argued that workmen’s compensation fall within the traditional area of insurance which is within the commercial insurance subject area. He said right from time, workmen’s compensation has never been part of social insurance, stressing that injury and death of workmen have always been covered in the commercial market worldwide. He agreed that the Workmen Compensation Act requires amendment and most of the provisions of the Employees Compensation Bill are welcome by the insurance industry, stressing however that in terms of providing the service, it runs contrary to government policy. “You cannot create a huge monopoly out of the administration of employees’ compensation in this country and entrust it with a corporation that has had problems performing its mandate in the past. We all know the story of NPF and we all know the story of NSITF. I am not talking about the institutions now, what I am saying is that with the way that acts is structured, it has always been covered traditionally,” he said.
Ladipo-Ajayi told media men recently that there are a number of issues that the NIA has raised against the bill, and of which it was depending upon the integrity of the National Assembly to look into. He stressed that under this present provision’s there are discriminative provisions, especially for women, and “one of the things that we don’t really like is that, when two workmen are involved in an injury, in a particular incident, and both of them are on the same scale, they have spent the same number of years, serving their employer, the amount of benefit they will derive from the injury or death will depend on certain variables that have not got anything to do with their employment.” he said. Using the foreman as a basis for explanation, he said if a foreman has spent ten years and the other foreman has spent ten years, if there was an explosion in the factory where they were both working and both of them died, how are you now talking about the number of wives, as if you looked at the family history of an employee before you pay their salaries, that has nothing to do with employment, one man may have a wife, the other may not have, another one may have four wives, but their remuneration has nothing to do with their family size. He explained that “in ordinary insurance, there is an element of discrimination, somebody who works in a construction company, who is opened to more physical injury, should pay higher than someone who is a clerk, a civil servant or who is a banker.” But if you are now “asking the staff of major construction companies, who are constructing bridges, roads, and power station, to pay one per cent of their wages, and you are asking bankers to pay one per cent of their own wages too, what it means is that one party is paying less than the risk he’s introducing, and other party paying much more than the risk he’s introducing, one party is subsidizing the other.” He explained that when you look at rating regime in the Workmen Compensation Act, you see that it takes these elements of discrimination into consideration; the clerk pays about 0.75 per cent because the risk of injury is less. You cannot compare that with someone who spends the greater part of his day on the road. Explaining the volume of premium which workmen’s compensation has contributed over time, he stated that the “Workmen Compensation Act only stipulates the benefit accruable to every employee in given circumstances of injury and death, and there is a provision that the minister of labour should make a regulation making the insurance against those employers liability compulsory. But throughout the life of that Act, no regulation was made.” He added that even in Britain, they don’t talk of Workmen Compensation Act, they talk of employers’ liability, because originally, workmen compensation was meant for lowly paid workers, and sometimes in 1970’s, Britain paid employers liability and they took care of all employees, from the chief executive to messengers, not limited it to daily paid workers alone. The NIA boss stated that “one institution cannot manage all the employees in this country. As insurance companies, there are so many of us, if one insurance company does not do well, you can do business with another, but if the NSITF does not do well, where do you go from there? What is the process of seeking redress? Ordinarily, one of the things we pointed out to the National Assembly, is that in debating that Bill in the house, they ought to provide a comparative analysis of the new Bill with the Act it seeks to abolish, because everything about the Workmen Compensation is not totally useless but just specific, it makes it easy for any fool to calculate the Bill, to the extent that if you lose anything, however big or small, there is an amount to be paid. It is a one and for all Bill. You get you compensation in bulk and you go away. He stressed that the numbers of your dependant are immaterial. But the most important thing is that as an employee of a construction firm, and there is a particular incident, four of you are injured, all of you have equal treatment, because the salary your employer pays you is oblivious of your family size or sex.
Nigerian Army has acquired additional drones and other advanced force multipliers to strengthen surveillance operations, improve target acquisition, and enhance precision strike and casualty evacuation capabilities.
Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, chief of Army Staff (COAS), said that the new drones will boost surveillance, precision strikes.
Shaibu, who disclosed this in a statement shared via the Nigerian Army’s official X handle, noted that the conference provided a platform for critical assessment of ongoing operations and the development of forward-looking strategies to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
He said deliberations at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre, Asokoro, focused on sharpening operational responses, strengthening training frameworks and adapting to the demands of modern security warfare.
According to him, the resolutions reached are aimed at building a more agile, combat-ready, technologically driven and mission-oriented force capable of responding effectively to emerging threats.
A key highlight of the reforms is the Army’s increasing investment in modern warfare technology, including the acquisition of additional tactical drones and the reconfiguration of Army aviation assets for combat roles.
Shaibu explained that these developments have significantly enhanced intelligence gathering, precision targeting, operational mobility and casualty evacuation across various theatres of operation.
He also highlighted ongoing improvements in recruitment, advanced training, professional military education and leadership development, stressing that discipline, competence and meritocracy remain central to building a stronger institution.
Reaffirming his “soldier-first” philosophy, the COAS said troop welfare remains a top priority, stressing that “troop welfare remains non-negotiable; well-motivated soldiers operating in conducive environments are critical to mission success.”
He urged senior officers to ensure that resolutions from the conference are fully implemented in field operations, stressing that the true value of the gathering lies in measurable impact on the battlefield.
Describing the ongoing reforms, Shaibu said: “We are not just reforming the Army; we are building a lethal, technology-driven fighting force where only discipline, merit, and mission success matter.”
The Army Chief expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support, as well as the Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs and intelligence agencies for their continued collaboration.
The conference ended with the presentation of commendation plaques to senior officers recognized for outstanding contributions to operational effectiveness.
The UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), David Smith MP, concluded a three-day visit to Abuja this week, marking Nigeria as the first focus country he has visited under the UK’s FoRB strategy.
During the visit, David Smith MP held a wide range of meetings with senior Nigerian government officials, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and local communities – reflecting the UK’s commitment to sustained, practical engagement and partnership on freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria.
Meetings included discussions with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang.
The Special Envoy also met with the co-chairs of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and HRH the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, President-General of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
At the end of the visit, the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, said: “Over the past few days, I have been honoured to meet a wide range of people — from senior government figures and civil society to faith leaders and local communities. I came to listen, learn, and see both how freedom of religion or belief is experienced in everyday life, and how it connects to – and is a core part of addressing – Nigeria’s wider challenges around security and cohesion.
“Some of the most powerful moments of this visit were at community level. Visiting Father Emmanuel Unamba’s parish and meeting Christian and Muslim neighbours living side by side was a real reminder that peaceful coexistence is something people build every day through leadership, dialogue, and shared responsibility.
“What I take away from this visit is the importance of further progress being Nigerian led, rooted in strong institutions and inclusive dialogue, with FoRB at its heart. The UK will continue to support practical efforts in ensuring greater peace, security and prosperity for all.”
The visit also included a roundtable with partners of the UK’s Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme, a £38 million UK government-funded conflict and resilience programme operating primarily in Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and Plateau states.
During the visit, Special Envoy David Smith MP held meetings with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission, and civil society organisations working at the intersection of insecurity and religious freedom. He also visited the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.
Speaking to the various stakeholders, Mr Smith called for greater tolerance across religion or belief in Nigeria and hoped that the cohesion he saw on a community level in the capital, could be achieved nation-wide with the same resolve. He hoped to continue these dialogues with interlocutors in the UK.
The visit builds on the momentum of President Tinubu’s State Visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026, which reinforced the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership and included interfaith events attended by President Tinubu and His Majesty The King, underlining both countries’ shared commitment to fostering constructive interfaith dialogue.
Women’s financial inclusion remains a critical challenge globally. According to Women’s World Banking, over one billion women lack access to formal financial services, limiting their potential for economic empowerment.
The reality is no different in Nigeria. The EFInA Access to Financial Services (A2F) 2023 survey highlights a significant gender disparity in Nigeria: 30% of adult women are completely excluded from both formal and informal financial services, compared to 21% of men. This means that out of Nigeria’s 57 million adult women, approximately 17 million remain financially isolated.
To bridge this gap, PalmPay has been actively investing in grassroots women’s empowerment by dismantling the knowledge barriers that hinder financial growth. Last year, the fintech platform took this mission directly to the commercial heart of Northern Nigeria: Sabon Gari Market in Kano and Central Market in Kaduna.
In these markets, thousands of women set up their stalls to deal in spices, textiles, grains, and consumer goods. They are the undeniable backbones of the economy, working around the clock to provide for their families.
While these female entrepreneurs possess immense business acumen, a staggering number have historically been left behind by the formal financial sector. For a market woman, being unbanked means trading entirely in cash. Without basic financial literacy or the right digital infrastructure, hard work alone isn’t enough to scale a business.
Recognising this gap, PalmPay stepped away from traditional banking boardrooms and went directly to the market. PalmPay launched a targeted financial inclusion and capacity-building initiative across Kano and Kaduna states. The core mission was straightforward: take the mystery out of digital banking and equip thousands of women entrepreneurs with the exact knowledge and tools required to thrive in a digital economy.
Backed by the royal endorsement of the Emir of Kano, Dr Muhammadu Sanusi II, the solution was delivered through:
- PalmPay team members conducted hands-on financial literacy workshops right inside the markets, teaching women how to separate personal expenses from shop revenue, calculate true profit margins, and budget for inventory.
- Women opened digital bank accounts on the spot and were equipped with reliable PalmPay POS terminals and mobile app tools.
- Micro-business branding support, including storefront branding, transactional merchandise, and market umbrellas to shield them from the elements.
The true impact of this initiative is best seen through the eyes of the market women themselves. Consider the transformation of a typical trader in Sabon Gari Market who spent years operating strictly with cash-box accounting.
Before the intervention, she faced the constant anxiety of missing cash, unverified bank transfers, and untracked inventory purchases. Today, with a PalmPay POS terminal on her counter and instant payment notifications triggering seamlessly on her phone, the chaos has been replaced by complete financial control.
When you empower a market woman, you don’t just improve a single business; you stabilise an entire household and uplift a community. By transitioning over 2,000 women in Kano and Kaduna from the vulnerabilities of an all-cash system to the security of digital banking, PalmPay has helped convert everyday survival into scalable success.
As these newly banked entrepreneurs continue to master cash-flow management and leverage instant digital settlements, they are proving that with the right partner, grassroots commerce can become a powerful engine for national economic growth.
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