NSITF: ‘Ngige Is Afraid Incorruptible Kokori Will Expose Him’ – NLC

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been accused of being desperate to continue running the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) as a ‘sole administrator’ because he is ostensibly afraid ‘incorruptible’ Frank Kokori would expose him.

Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress made the allegations at a press conference on Tuesday, vowing that NLC would stage a mass protest to press for the inauguration of the governing board of the fund with Frank Kokori as chairman.

Wabba, said: “It is clear that the minister of labour and employment is adamant on perpetually appropriating the NSITF in a sole proprietorship.

“Nigerian workers reject the manifest intent of Chris Ngige to continue to run the NSITF as a sole administrator”, accusing Ngige of recruiting 85 per cent ”of his village people in the ministry”.

According to him, the intent of the minister is against the provision of laws establishing NSITF and ”all moral codes”.

He said a lot of falsehood is being peddled against Mr Kokori by the minister.

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“Contrary to the lies by the minister, Frank Kokori’s appointment by President Buhari was without any prompting by the NLC. In fact, it was Ngige who hinted us of Kokori’s appointment,” he said.

Mr Wabba said he believed the president appointed Mr Kokori because of ”his history of being an incorruptible Nigerian who has never wavered on moral principles”.

These qualities, he said, Mr Ngige fears.

“Ngige confessed to some of us that his major problem with the appointment of Kokori is that he is too rigid for his liking,” Mr Wabba said.

The NLC boss said Mr Kokori was appointed on merit as confirmed by Vice President Yemi Osnibajo.

He also said Mr Kokori is eminently more qualified to hold even higher offices as against the claim by the minister ”that Kokori is not academically qualified to chair the NSITF board.”

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PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Wabba said the union had written a formal communication to the presidency and all the security agencies on the issue.