Presidency Backs Ngige Actions On Corruption Riddled NSITF

The presidency has broken its silence over the crisis between the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Dr Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment over the inauguration of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The board was supposed to be chaired by  veteran labour leader, Chief Frank Kokori but Ngige turned down the said appointment approved by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying Kokori was never his nominee.

The presidency in a statement obtained by BIGPEN ONLINE on Sunday however threw its weight behind actions taken by Ngige including the suspension of the inauguration of the board in 2018 which it said were part of the special work plan approved for the Honourable Minister by Mr. President.

The statement alluded to the fact that the anti-graft agency, EFCC has taken care of the corruption cases which NLC were allegedly pushing Kokori to champion in NSITF.

According to the statement, NSITF before Ngige’s arrival was bedevilled and riddled with corruption between 2012 – 2015, which resulted in a colossal loss and mismanagement of about N48 billion out of the total N62 billion contributions during the said period.

The statement signed by Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina was however silent about if Kokori was ever appointed to head the board but says the Minister’s nominee, Mr. Austin Enejamo-Isire, a Chartered Accountant was appointed since 23rd July, 2018.

Consequently, the statement said Kokori has been appointed on the recommendation of Mr. Ngige to chair the board of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), a diploma awarding labour institution.

It however condemned the picketing of Ngige private residence by leadership of NLC over the vexed issues but call for reconciliation, and calm from the NLC and the Ministry of Labour and Employment officials.

The statement read in full: “Following the disagreement between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the appointment of the Chairman of the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), the Presidency wishes to clarify as follows:

A. That the NSITF is a hundred percent, Federal Government of Nigeria owned insurance parastatal, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, designed for the role of insuring workers (employees) in the public and private sectors. The organization is empowered by law to implement the Employee Compensation Act (ECA) 2010 with mandate to insure workers and pay them compensation for accidents, deaths and injuries in the course of work.

B. The NSITF was bedevilled and riddled with corruption between 2012 – 2015, which resulted in a colossal loss and mismanagement of about N48 billion out of the total N62 billion contributions during the said period. These were contributions by the Employers – viz government and the private sector for payment of compensation to workers and even to Employers for loss of man-hours by their workers. This fraud has been investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the last Chairman and some members of the former board and some officials of the NSITF are presently being prosecuted by the EFCC.

C. All actions taken by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment towards the resuscitation and repositioning of this ailing agency, including the Administrative Panel of Inquiry into the affairs of NSITF and the suspension of the inauguration of the board in 2018 were part of the special work plan approved for the Honourable Minister by Mr. President.

D. The appointment of the Chairman of this board, which is in consonance with Sec. 4(a) of the NSITF Act CAP N88 of 2004 was also approved by Mr. President since 23rd July, 2018 on the recommendation of the Hon. Minister.  Mr. Austin Enejamo-Isire, a Chartered Accountant, Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and renowned Insurance expert, Senior Member, Chartered Institute of Insurance of Nigeria (CIIN), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) was approved by Mr. President for this position. Also approved by Mr. President were the Managing Director and three Executive Directors who had assumed duties since 18 April 2017.

Others also approved as Non-Executive Directors are two (2) members to represent the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), two members to represent the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and one (1) member each to represent the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. Members of this board are to be formally inaugurated   at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 13, 2019 by the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.

E. Comrade Frank Kokori , our respected veteran labour leader has Mr. President’s  immense respect and has also been appointed on the recommendation of the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment to chair the board of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS),  a diploma awarding labour institution.

Finally, the Presidency has noted with deep concern and regrets, the events that culminated in a skirmish at the private residence of the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, and condemns it, in its entirety. However, in the spirit of reconciliation, the Presidency appeals for calm from the NLC and the Ministry of Labour and Employment officials, as there are ongoing efforts to reconcile the NLC leadership with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, led by their Minister who has doggedly been fighting the cause of Nigerian workers whenever their issue is discussed by government, the latest being the enactment of the new National Minimum Wage Act 2019″.