By Charles Pemu 
The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has strongly opposed the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Act, describing the Senate’s move as a “dangerous attempt to hijack and politicize” the governance of workers’ social protection funds. The OPSN, which represents key employers like MAN and NECA, has urged the Senate to immediately halt the legislative process.
The core of the private sector’s rejection centers on the proposed changes dismantling the NSITF’s fundamental tripartite structure (Government, Employers, and Labour).
- ILO Convention Violation: The OPSN argues that the NSITF was founded in strict alignment with ratified International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions (including 102, 144, and 87), which mandate the full participation of social partners to shield the fund from unilateral government control.
- Political Interference: The amendment seeks to reduce the representation and influence of employers and workers—the main contributors and beneficiaries—while increasing government control through political appointments. This is warned to undermine the fund’s autonomy, encourage mismanagement, and jeopardize the security of millions of Nigerian workers.
- NSITF’s Role: The group stressed that the NSITF remains the sole statutory agency responsible for implementing the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA), and attempts to create parallel structures under the guise of reform would remove existing safeguards.
The OPSN also criticized the Senate for prioritizing the NSITF amendment, which they say addresses no operational defects, while neglecting the long-overdue Nigeria Labour Law Bill.
They stressed that the stalled Labour Law is critical for improving dispute resolution, enhancing workplace safety, promoting social dialogue, and addressing urgent gaps in the nation’s employment laws.
The private sector body called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to intervene, insisting that the NSITF must remain firmly rooted in tripartism, transparency, and accountability to safeguard the welfare and industrial peace for Nigerian workers.