Have you ever generated additional revenue for your company just by attending trainings or made money by sending your employees for trainings? Many employers either do not know or do not utilize the opportunity; to make money while improving their workforce via trainings. There is a less harnessed pool of funds which employers of labour can access via the Industrial Training Fund (ITF). While being compliant with the ITF; the workforce is becoming improved; and the company gets to generate additional revenue.

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF or the Fund) is a creation of the Industrial Training Fund Act of 1971, as amended (the Act). It places an obligation on any Employer who has a minimum of 5 employees or an annual turnover of N50million or more to contribute 1% of its total annual payroll cost to the Fund.

For an employer of labour to be eligible; they must submit the following to the ITF Office before 31 March of every year, for approval:

  1. copy of its training policy;
  2. its training plan or calendar for the year;
  3. ITF FORM 3A (Application for Approval of Learning and Development Personnel); and
  4. appointment letter and curriculum vitae of its dedicated learning and development personnel.

The Employer must, during the year, obtain a letter of approval for any trainings its employees will attend.

To obtain a course approval, an Employer must submit to the ITF, 2 weeks before any proposed training (local training) or 3 weeks before the training (international training)
the details of the training using form 4A. Once approved, ITF would issue an approval letter.

At the end of its accounting year, a company is obligated to submit its audited account to
the ITF office for assessment. ITF is assessed at 1% of total annual payroll cost.

Once the ITF assessment has been paid, a company has till 30 June of the year of payment to claim up to 50% of its contributions as reimbursements for trainings expenses spent in the previous year.

To claim re-imbursement, the following must be submitted:

  1. ITF TR Form 1 (Summary of Contributing Employers Training Reimbursement Claims for the Year)
  2. ITF TR Form 2; (Areas of Reimbursement Award)
  3. Approved Form 3A of Training Personnel or Human Resources Manager
  4. Course approval obtained from ITF
  5. Cost and Expense details of training

The 50% reimbursement to be paid to a company is split between the different areas;
management, supervisory, learning/training personnel, occupational, health, safety, and
environment. To benefit fully, a company should train employees in the different areas.
Also, emphasis should be placed on the area in which the highest number of employees are trained.

You can speak with us via 08076680809 or info@21search.ng to further assist your business harness this opportunity as you develop your training plans for the year 2021.

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