MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT
The Social Security/ Cooperative Development Department is saddled with the responsibility of promoting an all-inclusive approach to Social Security as stipulated in the Federal Republic of Nigeria official Gazette No.15, Vol.76 of 3rd March, 1989 and to maintain a well-coordinated Cooperative Societies in the Country as contained in the Cooperative Development ACTS CAP 27 LFN2004 Cooperative Societies ACT CAP N98 LFN 2004
FUNCTIONS FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT
- To carry out oversight functions on activities of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF)
- To formulate policies and programmes designed to promote social security for the vulnerable.
- To provide social assistance either cash or in-kind, transfer resources to vulnerable individuals or households with no other means of adequate support. Vulnerable including single mothers, the homeless, physically or mentally challenged through synergizing with other key players in social security.
- To provide efficient operation of labour markets and the protection of workers.
- The department also works to ensure the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria with particular emphasis on Goal 1,2, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 16
- Liaising with all organizations implementing social security schemes, to foster excellence in the delivery of program service to beneficiaries.
- Addressing social security problems, while developing strategies to improve the social conditions and well-being of the population.
- Advising government on all of social security issues including benefits and the development of universal social security systems.
- Promoting the harmonization and rationalization of all providers of social security schemes in the Country with NSITF as the apex Institution
- Collaborating with stakeholders to ensure the coverage of universal social security to all Nigerians.
- Setting up implementation guidelines for social security coverage in all sectors of the economy
- Collaborating with donor agencies such as ILO, World Bank, ISSA, IFAN, UNSPF, UNEC, ECOWAS, AU, UNDP, UNICEF, AFDB, FAO, EU, Action Aid to ensure the realization of adequate social security benefits in Nigeria.
- Ensuring that funds collected are utilized to meet the aspirations of the beneficiaries while implementing the social security schemes.
FUNCTIONS OF THE COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT
- To co-ordinate inter-governmental and inter-state cooperative activities;
- To formulate broad national economic policies for cooperative development and financing the integration of cooperative policies into National Developmental plans
- Registration and supervision of the National Cooperative Apex Organizations and the implementation of development policies relating to National Cooperative projects;
- Disbursement of Federal and Foreign Assistance to the Nigerian Co-operative Movement;
- To liaise with relevant economic institutions, and the representation of cooperative interests at Inter Ministerial meetings;
- To coordinate the central labour organizations on cooperative matters
- Compilation of statistical information/data on all matters relating to Social Security/Cooperative Development;
- To co-ordinate research on cooperatives;
- To liaise with Inter-African Cooperatives, International Cooperative Organizations and other relevant specialized agencies of the United Nations;
- Organization of National and International conferences, and seminars to promote education on Cooperative matters including collaborations with Foreign Cooperative Bodies.
- To serve as secretariat to the National Advisory Council for Cooperative Development
RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
- The department in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), held a two-day training on 28th and 30th May, 2019; at Chelsea Hotel, captioned “Advanced Training on Social Protection Data”. In attendance were key stakeholders on social security/ social protection including; Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, National Health Insurance Scheme, National Social Safety Nets Co-ordinating Office, Federal Mortgage Bank, National Bureau of Statistics among others. The training had facilitators from ILO offices in Switzerland, Sierra lone and Nigeria; emphasis of the training was laid on the accurate data capturing for the ILO Social Security Inquiry Questionnaire, to improve upon previous data collated for Nigeria in the World Social Protection Report.