Senate passes workers’ compensation trust fund, federal polytechnics bills

The Nigerian Senate passed two significant pieces of legislation on Thursday: the Nigerian Employees’ Compensation Trust Fund Agency Establishment Bill, 2026, and the Federal Polytechnics Act Amendment Bill, 2026.

Following a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the bills were recommitted to the Committee of the Whole for further examination. Bamidele emphasized the need for additional review to enhance administrative clarity and establish a comprehensive legal framework.

Bamidele called on fellow lawmakers to reconsider previous decisions on the bills, while Senator Kamorudeen Oyewumi (APC, Osun West) supported the motion, highlighting its potential to eliminate ambiguities and better align the bills with existing legislation governing similar institutions.

The Senate undertook a clause-by-clause review of the bills, approving their provisions. Bamidele explained that the Employees’ Compensation Trust Fund Bill aims to repeal the NSITF Act and the Employees’ Compensation Act, introducing a new compensation framework for workplace-related injuries, illnesses, or disabilities.

Similarly, the Federal Polytechnics Act Amendment Bill intends to revise the current laws governing federal polytechnics, clarifying their functions and addressing associated issues.

Both bills were ultimately passed following their third reading.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the contributions of Bamidele and other lawmakers, noting that the legislation is designed to enhance workers’ welfare and reinforce the role of technical education in the nation’s economic development. He underscored the importance of the compensation provisions in protecting workers while ensuring that technical institutions meet the country’s developmental needs.

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