The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has pledged to work in harmony with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to ensure Nigerian workers derive maximum benefits of the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).
The Director General-designate of NECA, Timothy Olawale stated this in Abuja when the out-going Director General, Olusegun Oshinowo, formally introduced him to the Fund.
Receiving the NECA team, the Managing Director of NSITF, Adebayo Somefun, lauded NECA for providing the institutional support for the effective take-off of the scheme, added that the out-going DG is an industrial relations colossus and a worthy mentor as well as a source of inspiration.
His words: “The relationship between NSITF and NECA has been very cordial and harmonious. We assure the out-going DG that we would continue to cooperate with the incoming DG as he receives the baton. We believe that as the out-going DG finished very strong, the new DG will also finish very well.
“We are happy that we are meeting you as a member of the incoming board because we have also been waiting for the inauguration of the board.”
Earlier in his remarks, the out-going NECA boss, Oshinowo, explained that he is stepping aside after serving as Director General of NECA for 19 years and serving employers’ body in various capacities for 35 years.
“After 19 years as the Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), time has come for me to go. All put together I have served the employers at various levels and it is appropriate for me to move round to say ‘thank you’ to those whose paths had crossed mine in my 35 years sojourn. Of course, I cannot leave out NSITF as one of those key partners whose paths had crossed mine. I have had the privilege of serving on the board of NSITF in time past for about eight years. I thought it would out of place for me to sneak out of office without notification,” he stated.
Mr Oshinowo further said his successor, Timothy Olawale, is the first DG that would be appointed within the organisation since NECA was established in 1957.
His explanation: “My exit from office and the entrance of my successor is actually a milestone in NECA. Since NECA was established in 1957, it has had five Director Generals. I am the fifth DG and none of those five DGs had been NECA inside staff. We all came from outside to head NECA. This would be the first time in the history of NECA that it will be having an home-grown DG and we consider that a milestone.”
He said that him introducing his successor to NECA stakeholders personally was meant to ensure continuum of relationship with key stakeholders for smooth operation after his exit, saying, “the reason for introducing my successor personally to our key stakeholders is very clear. Relationship is a continuum. We want the new DG to build on the foundation we have laid. We do not want a situation where he would be the one that will be moving around to introduce him. That would be out of place.”
The out-going DG also hinted that both the incoming DG and President would serve on the board of the NSITF. Meanwhile, the incoming DG, praised the achievements of Oshinowo, and said he is an industrial relations combatant that is irreplaceable. Timothy, who will assume the leadership on the employers’ body on January 1, 2019, pointed out that he has been deeply involved at operational level of NSITF by giving life to some of the programmes of the Fund and also supporting it to realise and achieve its mandate.
He added: “For me, joining the board of NSITF is a continuum of what I have been doing over the years. It is also an opportunity to further the good work we have been doing together, but now at a higher level when the board is inaugurated. I hereby pledge my commitment and that of the NECA President who is also joining the board of our readiness to ensure that the mandate of the Fund is achieved.”
