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
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has pledged to reduce interest rates if elected.
Mr Obi made the remarks during an appearance on Sunday Politics on Channels Television late on Sunday, where he outlined plans to revive the economy through cheaper credit for businesses and increased investment in agriculture and manufacturing.
He said Nigeria’s current borrowing costs are crippling small businesses, and this could be tied to the current interest rate level.
Last week, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) retained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), the country’s benchmark interest rate, at 26.5 per cent.
Mr Obi argued that government should focus on creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurs rather than directly engaging in production, stressing that small businesses remain the largest employers of labour in successful economies.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as Indonesia, he said governments that prioritise small businesses provide affordable financing, training and other forms of support that enable enterprises to thrive.
“The government supports them with training and loans at less than 10 per cent, actually about 5 per cent. How can you do small business in Nigeria with no support, no training, and interest rates at 35 per cent? It is impossible.”
According to Mr Obi, supporting manufacturers and visiting factories to understand their challenges is central to building a productive economy rather than one driven by consumption.
“I know the biggest problem for manufacturers today in Nigeria is interest rate,” he said.
The show’s host, Mr Seun Okinbaloye, then asked whether he would reduce interest rates if elected president.
“Of course, yes,” he answered, adding that his background in building businesses and in the corporate world qualifies him to know exactly what to do to drive the interest rate down.
Although the Nigerian president does not directly determine the MPR, presidential economic policies and appointments to the CBN leadership can influence the broader environment in which those decisions are made.
Following the conclusion of the 306th Monetary Policy Committee meeting held in Abuja on July 20 and 21, 2026, the Governor of the CBN, Mr Yemi Cardoso, who heads the MPC, said the decision to hold rates steady is intended to sustain the moderation in inflation, preserve stability in the foreign exchange market and consolidate recent macroeconomic gains.
Headline inflation eased marginally to 15.91 per cent in June 2026, from 15.93 per cent in May, although food inflation accelerated on a monthly basis to 3.75 per cent from 2.98 per cent.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited before a Federal High Court in Abuja over what it described as the company’s failure to adequately explain and account for more than ₦211 trillion recorded in its 2023 audited financial statements.
According to SERAP, the sum of N211.015 trillion was listed under “Sundry Receivables” and “Accrued Expenses” in NNPC’s audited accounts without sufficient details to enable public scrutiny of the transactions.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1427/2026 and filed last week, the advocacy group is seeking an order compelling the state oil company to account for the funds and disclose all documents relating to the entries contained in its 2023 financial statements.
SERAP is asking the court to direct the oil company to provide a detailed explanation and reconciliation of the N107.6 trillion recorded as “Sundry Receivables,” including the identities of the debtors, amounts owed, legal basis for the receivables and the status of efforts to recover the funds.
The organisation is also requesting the disclosure of documents relating to the N103.4 trillion listed as “Accrued Expenses,” including the identities of creditors and beneficiaries, the nature of the liabilities, their legal basis and supporting records establishing their legitimacy.
In addition, SERAP wants the court to compel NNPC to release all records used in preparing and approving the N211 trillion entries in the audited accounts.
The group argued that there is an overriding public interest in making the information available, maintaining that NNPC Limited has a legal obligation to explain the transactions and demonstrate that the figures are accurate, lawful and backed by credible documentation.
SERAP further contended that the Freedom of Information Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights guarantee citizens access to information held by public institutions, including NNPC Limited, to facilitate oversight of public resources.
According to the organisation, disclosure of the information would promote transparency, strengthen fiscal accountability, prevent corruption and enable Nigerians to assess how the country’s oil wealth is being managed.
The suit stated that Nigerians have a right to know who owes the N107.6 trillion, who is entitled to the N103.4 trillion in accrued expenses, the legal basis for the transactions and whether the entries comply with relevant laws and accountability standards.
Filed by SERAP’s legal team comprising Miss Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Miss Kehinde Oyewumi, Mr Andrew Nwankwo and Miss Maryam Mumuni, the suit explained that “Sundry Receivables” represent funds NNPCL claims are owed to it by individuals, companies or government entities but have not yet been received.
It also described “Accrued Expenses” as liabilities NNPCL says it owes for goods, services or other obligations already incurred but not yet paid.
SERAP argued that together, the two entries account for more than N211 trillion in NNPC’s 2023 audited financial statements, yet the accounts do not sufficiently identify the parties involved, explain the legal basis of the transactions or provide supporting documentation for independent verification.
The organisation maintained that NNPCL remains subject to the Freedom of Information Act because it is wholly owned by the Federal Government and manages petroleum resources and oil revenues on behalf of the federation.
According to SERAP, the Petroleum Industry Act does not exempt the company from its obligations to operate transparently and accountably.
The organisation added that secrecy surrounding oil revenue management undermines public trust, weakens the rule of law and runs contrary to Nigeria’s constitutional provisions, financial regulations and international anti-corruption commitments.
No date has been fixed for hearing the suit.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, has disclosed that the state government has not restricted the movement of people during the re-introduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Responding to an enquiry by an X user, Faveo Autos, on Saturday, he said the exercise was not brought back to restrict the movement of residents, noting that arresting anyone during the sanitation was unlawful and not backed by law.
However, he encouraged Lagosians to use the period to keep their surroundings clean.
“What is the fine for movement during environmental [sanitation]?” Mr Wahab was asked by Faveo Autos today.
In his response, the Commissioner said, “For clarity, there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Consequently, arresting anyone on the basis of movement during the exercise is unlawful and does not represent the position or policy of the Lagos State Government.
“The monthly environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced primarily to restore and strengthen the culture of environmental cleanliness across the state.
“The initiative is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017. However, the law does not provide for any restriction on movement during the exercise.
“Our focus is on encouraging Lagosians to embrace environmental sanitation as a civic responsibility and a shared commitment to maintaining a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, rather than relying on enforcement measures.”
