General
NECA to Partner FG, NSITF to Implement Employment Compensation Scheme
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To strengthen the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed readiness to collaborate closely with the organised labour, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Speaking in Lagos at the Safe Workplace Intervention Project (SWIP) Annual Interactive Enlightenment Forum and Awards Presentation ceremonies held at the NECA House, the Director-General of NECA, Mr Wale Smatt-Oyerinde, expressed confidence that the scheme would benefit Nigerian workers.
He also explained that SWIP was designed as a learning and equipment platform, enabling employers to better understand their obligations under the law, appreciate the benefits of compliance and adopt proactive occupational safety and health practices that protect both workers and enterprises.
He described the programme as deliberate interventions to recognize organizations that have demonstrated exemplary commitment to workplace safety, while also providing a forum for open dialogue on the practical challenges employers face in implementing the ECA 2010.
“The Lagos event is part of the nationwide SWIP engagement series, which reflects the association’s resolve to ensure that employers across the country are adequately informed, engaged, and supported in achieving compliance and improving workplace safety outcomes. Safe workplaces are productive places where workers are protected, motivated, and assured of compensation in the event of injury or any disease,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Maigari Dingyadi, said the SWIP initiative has brought together key stakeholders to advance the cause of safe, healthy, and productive workplaces in Nigeria.
He also noted that the Act represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s labour administration framework, guaranteeing fair, adequate compensation to workers who suffer injuries, disabilities, or diseases. or death arising from the cause of their employment.
“It places a premium on prevention by encouraging employers to prioritize workplace safety, risk management, and occupational therapy,” he said, noting that the project is timely and strategic by combining awareness of client support and recognition of best practices to promote a culture in which safety is not seen as a cost, but as a critical investment in human capital, productivity, and national development.
On her part, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Ms Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, stated that the federal government is working around the clock to strengthen the enforcement of the Factory Rights Act.
“We cannot speak of job creation while workers are exposed to preventable danger. No job is worth a human life. Our objective is simple but non-negotiable. Every Nigerian worker must leave home for work and return safely at the end of the day,” she said, urging employers to fully comply with the provisions of the Act and contribute by continuously investing in safety systems.
“I also encourage workers to remain self-conscious and to exercise their rights responsibly under the law,” she said.
Congratulating the award winners at the ceremony, the Minister noted that the recognition is a clear demonstration that compliance and competitiveness can go hand in hand.
In his remarks, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, disclosed that a sustained effort to strengthen the NSITF Act, improve compliance, and empower workers can transform occupational risk management in Nigeria.
According to Mr Ajaero, this action will not only reduce the socio-economic burden of workplace injuries but also promote a culture of safety, accountability, and social justice across the nation’s workplaces.
He emphasized the need to focus on raising awareness, enforcement, and inclusivity, noting that the Act can serve as a model framework for workers’ protection, ensuring that all Nigerian employees enjoy their right to fair, timely, and adequate compensation regardless of sector.
Also, the chief executive of NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, said SWIP has evolved into a strategic platform for driving awareness, strengthening compliance, and fostering collaboration around occupational safety and health.
While commending NECA for its consistent leadership and promoting employer compliance and workers’ safety, he noted that compliance must not be seen as a regulatory obligation alone, but as a strategic business decision that saves our human capital, reduces operational risk, and enhances the organization’s reputation.
A major highlight of the event was the recognition of companies such as Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Chi Limited, among others, with some receiving car ambulances to promote workplace safety.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to a Lagos socialite, Ms Aisha Achimugu, and her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited, to the federal government of Nigeria.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nwite held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established that the foreign currency was proceeds of fraud and unlawful activities.
The judge further held that Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited failed to establish how it came by the money, saying the anti-money laundering agency satisfied all requirements for the funds to be classified as proceeds of fraud and to be forfeited to the appropriate authority.
He dismissed the claims that the $13 million was gifts received into the Oceangate Engineering Company by Ms Achimugu, adding that the woman never came to the court to show cause why the huge amount of money should not be forfeited to the government.
He held that no single person who gave the monetary gift to Aisha Achimugu to the tune of $13 million was called to testify.
The judge further held that the burden to establish genuine ownership of the money was not established by the applicant to counter the claims of the anti- graft agency that the money was the proceeds of fraud based on its investigation.
According to the judge, Oceangate Engineering Company did not show the business it undertook that fetched it the money, nor did it show whether any payment was made to it by any of its customers.
Justice Nwite had, on August 22, 2025, granted the anti-graft agency’s motion ex parte for an interim order forfeiting the sum of $13 million linked to Oceangate Ltd to the Federal Government over allegations that the fund was proceeds of unlawful activity.
The judge had then directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested people to show cause within 14 days why the fund should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has inaugurated a 17-member Planning Committee to coordinate the National Flag-Off of the Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN) Initiative, a flagship programme aimed at transforming research outputs into economic value.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Philip Ndiomu Ebiogeh, described the initiative as a strategic intervention to convert Nigeria’s vast research and innovation outputs into market-ready products, scalable enterprises, and job-creating opportunities.
He noted that ECoN will mobilise stakeholders nationwide to identify bankable innovations and accelerate their transition from laboratories to the marketplace, stressing that the country must move beyond theoretical research to practical solutions that drive industrial growth and national prosperity.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, had earlier briefed the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, on the initiative and proposed her as a champion of the programme, with the national flag-off scheduled for Kano State.
He explained that Kano was deliberately selected due to its historic role as a commercial and industrial hub, offering strong potential to attract investment, stimulate enterprise, and create jobs.
The Committee is chaired by the Minister, with the Permanent Secretary as Co-Chairman, while the Director-General, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, NBRDA, and the Director-General, Sheda Science and Technology Complex, SHESTCO, serve as Alternate Chairmen.
Members include Professor Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Dr Jummai Adamu, Dr (Mrs) Obiageli Amadiobi, Dr Kabiru Mu’azu, Dr Anwal Mustapha, Engr Ibiam Oguejiofo, Mr Moses Fatogun, Mr Adamu Sulaiman (a representative of SMEDAN), Dr Prince Lawrence Eze, Mr Sani Garba, Dr Muhammad Mustapha, Dr Chioma Okeke, Mr Luther Onyemkpa, Mr Charles Egumgbe, and Dr Nwankwo Nnenna serving as Secretary.
The national flag-off is proposed for late April or early May 2026, subject to Presidential approval.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to positioning innovation as a key driver of economic diversification and sustainable development, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Switzerland-headquartered global shipping giant, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has complied with the directive of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to suspend the implementation of its new tariff pending consultations with stakeholders.
In a customer advisory titled Temporary Suspension of New Tariff Implementation, the shipping line stated that the tariff regime in place before the recent increase would remain effective until further notice.
Business Post reported a few days ago that freight forwarders picketed the offices of MSC, protesting the recent increase in shipping line tariffs. They blocked the regulators from accessing the MSC premises to address the matter.
Despite the protests, the council’s attempt to engage the aggrieved freight forwarders in discussions was resisted, as the protesters insisted that there was no basis for dialogue and vowed to continue the protest until the increased charges were immediately reversed.
In the latest directive, the shipping company said, “We wish to inform our esteemed customers that the recently implemented tariff adjustment has been temporarily suspended, following a directive from the NSC. This suspension is pending the conclusion of ongoing engagements and resolution with the regulator.”
“Accordingly, the tariff regime applicable prior to the recent increase will remain in force until further notice, as mandated.”
The company further assured customers that updates would be communicated once a final decision is reached by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
“We remain fully committed to regulatory compliance, transparency, and protecting the interests of our customers. Further updates will be communicated promptly once a definitive position is issued by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. We appreciate your understanding and continued cooperation,” the advisory added.
NSC had warned that prolonged industrial disputes within the maritime sector could disrupt port operations and negatively impact trade and economic activities.
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