Taraba State has paid out N5 billion to pensioners while committing to fully adopt the Employees’ Compensation Scheme of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.

Officials described the development as a significant step toward enhancing workers’ welfare and social protection in the state.

The move followed a high-level visit to Jalingo by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye. He met with Governor Agbu Kefas at the Government House to advocate for stronger institutional collaboration and broader implementation of the ECS.

Faleye described the engagement as part of a deliberate strategy to build structured partnerships with progressive state governments committed to protecting workers and strengthening institutional sustainability.

The Managing Director stressed that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme is not merely a statutory obligation but a critical social protection instrument that guarantees dignity for workers and stability for employers.

“When a worker is injured, disabled, or loses his life in the course of duty, the response of government defines public trust and reinforces confidence in leadership,” Faleye said, noting that expanding ECS coverage aligns with Governor Kefas’ welfare-driven agenda.

To translate dialogue into measurable outcomes, the NSITF boss proposed concrete steps. These include expanding ECS compliance across state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), intensifying sensitization of major employers and contractors operating in the state, and strengthening workplace safety and compensation awareness.

In a move aimed at institutionalising compliance, Faleye recommended the integration of the ECS Compliance Certificate into Taraba’s public procurement and contracting processes.

He explained that requiring evidence of NSITF compliance for contract bidding, pre-qualification, contractor registration and renewal, as well as public-private partnerships, would reinforce existing statutory requirements and ensure companies benefiting from public funds are protecting their workers.

Faleye also proposed the immediate establishment of a joint technical interface between the state government and the Fund to develop a short implementation roadmap. He added that NSITF has activated an internal Strategic Inter-Agency Coordination framework to track timelines and deliverables.

In a symbolic development, Faleye confirmed Governor Kefas as Ambassador for the Advocacy of ECS in Taraba State and the Northeast region.

Responding, Governor Kefas assured that the state would fully key into the scheme for the benefit of workers.

He disclosed that Taraba had recently paid N5 billion to pensioners and expressed optimism that by the end of the year, the state would clear all outstanding pension liabilities.

“Taraba State Government is ready to partner with NSITF to ensure you fulfill your mandate by ensuring all workers are enrolled in the scheme. We will work through the Office of the Head of Service, Ministry of Finance and Ministry for Local Government,” the governor said.

He pledged to fulfill all obligations under the scheme in line with his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and immediately set up a high-powered committee to interface with NSITF to ensure full ECS compliance across the state.