ISSA 2026: Tinubu assures Nigerian workers of social security, life after retirement
By Eberechi Obinagwam
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday restated the commitment of the Federal Government towards ensuring that every Nigerian worker is insulated from sudden economic ruin, workplace injury and assured of a dignified life after retirement.
The president gave the assurance at the opening of a two-day ISSA 2026 West Africa Seminar holding in Abuja, the nation’s capital with the theme: “ Improving inclusiveness and accessibility of social security services through effective communication in West Africa.”
He disclosed that since assuming office in 2023, his administration has driven its Renewed Hope Agenda with a clear objective, to restore opportunity, protect livelihoods, and rebuild confidence in our economy. Across government, we are deliberately strengthening institutions that form the pillars of Nigeria’s evolving social security architecture.
“Through the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, we have fundamentally strengthened workplace injury protection. Today, over 7.5 million Nigerian employees are covered under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, ensuring that when workplace accidents or disabilities occur, families are protected from sudden economic ruin. Every compensation payment sends a clear message: those who serve this nation will not be abandoned.
“Today, under the oversight of the National Pension Commission, over 10 million Nigerian workers are actively contributing to the Contributory Pension Scheme, with pension assets now exceeding ₦25 trillion, according to data published by the National Pension Commission”, the president revealed.
Represented by the Minister for Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, President Tinubu emphasised that although, those figures are impressive, the true success of the pension reform cannot be measured merely in trillions of naira.
“What those assets represent is trust, the hard-earned savings of Nigerian workers who now have confidence that after a lifetime of service, retirement will not mean hardship, uncertainty, or loss of dignity, but security and peace of mind.
“And because the greatest form of social security remains meaningful employment, the National Directorate of Employment continues to expand opportunities for our youth. Over the years, the NDE has empowered more than two million Nigerians through vocational training, entrepreneurship development, and job creation initiatives, equipping young people with skills not only to earn a living, but to build sustainable futures.
“Through the National Health Insurance Authority, access to affordable healthcare continues to expand, with over 16 million Nigerians now enrolled under health insurance programmes, reducing catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenses and improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
“Through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, targeted social intervention programmes continue to support vulnerable households through conditional cash transfers, food security initiatives, and livelihood support designed to cushion economic shocks.
“Programmes such as N-Power have provided skills development and employment opportunities to hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians, improving employability while supporting service delivery across education, agriculture, and community development sectors”.
Giving more insight, the president disclosed that “In the housing sector, reforms under the National Housing Fund and the Renewed Hope Housing Programme are expanding access to affordable housing finance and promoting home ownership for low- and middle-income Nigerians, recognizing that shelter remains a critical dimension of social security and family stability.
“At the foundation of these interventions lies data integration. Through the National Social Register, which captures millions of vulnerable households nationwide, Nigeria is building a unified targeting framework to ensure social protection interventions reach those who need them most.
“Our objective is clear: to move toward an integrated and digitally enabled social protection system, where pensions, healthcare, employment support, social assistance, housing, and compensation programmes operate not in isolation, but as coordinated guarantees of social and economic security”.
On the plight of workers in the sub region, the president observed that West Africa stands at a historic crossroads. “We are one of the youngest regions in the world, blessed with extraordinary human energy, entrepreneurial drive, and demographic promise. Yet we are also a region where vulnerability remains a daily reality for millions, vulnerability to economic transitions, to health shocks, to workplace accidents, to unemployment, and to the quiet insecurity that follows uncertainty”.
Speaking to the theme of the seminar, President Tinubu declared that “Communication is not public relations. It is the bridge between government and citizens. It is the architecture of trust.
“If we are to communicate social security effectively in West Africa, we cannot rely solely on technical circulars. Our people communicate through community, culture, conversation, and shared experience”.
According to him, “In Nigeria, information often travels faster through the marketplace than through billboards. That may sound light-hearted, but the lesson is serious: communication must be culturally intelligent. We must speak in the language of communities, markets, and workplaces, not only in policy documents.
“Yes, technology matters. Nigeria continues integrating digital identity systems to improve transparency and targeting. But technology must be matched with grassroots engagement, local radio, community leaders, and simplified messaging that makes complex concepts understandable to everyday workers”.
Tinubu advised delegates to speak with honesty insisting that “Having the right policies is only half the battle. The true challenge lies in communication, an area where many institutions have struggled. Access does not automatically produce inclusion. Legislation alone does not create trust.
“West Africa must move beyond copying global models. Long before the gig economy became a global buzzword, our informal sector was already thriving through innovation and resilience. Our communication strategies must reflect our realities.
“The ISSA provides an invaluable platform for shared learning and collaboration. This seminar is not merely about messaging techniques; it is about strengthening the social contract between governments and citizens”.
In his opening remarks at the event, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi assured that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment remains committed to its constitutional mandate of formulating and implementing policies that safeguard the welfare of Nigerian workers.
He said the supervision of key institutions, particularly the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund was given priority attention. The minister said “Established under the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) 2010, the NSITF serves as a critical vehicle for delivering social security to workers by providing compensation for workplace injuries, disabilities, and death.
“Through effective oversight, we ensure that the Fund remains aligned with international best practices, including those championed by the ISSA, while fulfilling its statutory responsibility of protecting the workforce. Our commitment is to continue strengthening this institution so that no worker is left vulnerable in the face of occupational risks.
“This Seminar provides a valuable opportunity to benchmark our systems against global standards, exchange knowledge, and deepen collaboration across borders. I encourage all participants to engage openly, share experiences candidly, and build partnerships that will endure well beyond this gathering”, he advised.
