Compliance (PENCOM, NSITF, ITF)
The NSITF compliance certificate, explained.
What the NSITF compliance certificate is, how the Employee Compensation Scheme contribution works, the evidence you need, and how to get the certificate for tenders.
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) administers the Employee Compensation Scheme (ECS) under the Employee Compensation Act. Employers contribute a percentage of their monthly payroll into the fund, which pays out to employees injured or killed at work. The NSITF Compliance Certificate proves an employer is up to date on those contributions — and it is a standard requirement in public and large corporate tenders.
This guide explains how the contribution works, what evidence the certificate needs, and how to obtain it without a bid being rejected.
How the ECS contribution works
Under the Employee Compensation Act, employers contribute a percentage of their total monthly payroll to the NSITF. The contribution is the employer's obligation — it is not deducted from staff salaries the way pension contributions are split. Remit monthly, keep the receipts, and the compliance certificate follows.
Because it is payroll-based, the certificate effectively confirms two things at once: that you have employees, and that you are funding their workplace-injury cover.
What the certificate needs
NSITF issues the compliance certificate when your contribution record is current. Typically you provide:
- Evidence of monthly ECS contributions for the relevant period.
- Your payroll basis — the figure the contribution is calculated on.
- Remittance receipts from the NSITF payment channel.
- Company details consistent with your CAC record (RC number, name).
- Your NSITF employer registration, if not already registered.
Register first if you never have
A company that has employed staff but never registered with the NSITF needs to register before it can be issued a compliance certificate. Registration plus back-contributions for the period you were liable is the catch-up path. There is no way to get a current certificate while skipping the periods you should have contributed.
How to obtain it
The application compiles the contribution evidence and submits it to the NSITF. See live filing details on /catalog/NSITF.COMPLIANCE and the NSITF hub at /agencies/NSITF.
Docufy compiles the contribution evidence, prepares the application, and routes it through an accredited agent — government fee pass-through, fixed service fee on top, verified certificate to your vault.
Where it fits in the tender pack
NSITF sits alongside PenCom, ITF and the FIRS TCC as the standard tender compliance pack. Procuring entities ask for all of them together, and a single missing certificate disqualifies the bid. The certificate is year-bound, so renew it as part of a standing compliance cycle rather than scrambling per tender. See the tender compliance certificates checklist for the full list.
Questions
Frequently asked.
What is the NSITF compliance certificate?
It is proof that an employer is current on its Employee Compensation Scheme contributions to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund. Public and large corporate tenders require it as part of the compliance pack.
Who pays the NSITF contribution — employer or employee?
The employer. Unlike pension contributions, the ECS contribution is the employer's sole obligation and is calculated on total monthly payroll, not deducted from staff salaries.
My company never registered with NSITF. What do I do?
Register with the NSITF first, then make the contributions for the period you were liable. You cannot obtain a current certificate while skipping the periods you should have contributed.
How long is the certificate valid?
It is year-bound. Tenders ask for a current certificate, so most employers renew it annually as part of their standing compliance pack.
Do I need NSITF together with PenCom and ITF?
For most public tenders, yes. PenCom, NSITF, ITF and a FIRS TCC are typically requested together, and a single missing certificate disqualifies the bid.
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