The Employee Compensation Act Allows Injured And Ill Nigerians To Get Compensation

Employee Compensation Act (ECA) 2010 will now be implemented nationwide, the Nigerian government announced on Monday.

Following an urgent council meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Labor and Employment Chris Ngige spoke to the media.

The new Employee Compensation Act, administered by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), replaces the previous Employee Compensation Act, sometimes known as "Workmen Compensation."

Noting that the Act had been put into practice in the private sector, he declared that in order for workers to be protected, the federal, state, and municipal governments must now do the same.

According to the Act, any employee who is hurt on the job, has an accident, becomes sick, becomes disabled, or even passes away is entitled to compensation.

Ngige reaffirmed the order requiring a percentage contribution to be made on behalf of every employee of all ministries, departments, and agencies.

"It is an insurance premium, one percent of remuneration. You pay it and it insures your worker against these workplace accident injuries," he said.

In order to include it as a social contribution in the annual budget, the council instructed the Minister of Finance and the Budget Office.