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Tag: NSITF

  • NSITF set for awareness campaign on compensation scheme

    The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) is to carry out a massive awareness campaign to increase enrolment in the Employee Compensation Scheme (ECS).

    At the just-concluded 108th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, chairman of the board of the NSITF Austin Enejamo-Isire said employers, the major contributors to the fund, ought to be made aware of the advantage of enrolling their workers in the scheme.

    He said awareness was key to the success of the scheme, adding that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was doing a lot to provide a fair deal for Nigerians.

    He said: “I have just resumed as the chairman of the NSITF board and I believe that one way to increase enrolment is to create awareness and I do know that if you do great things and you fail to propagate those things, nobody will recognise that.

    “One of the key things we are going to do to stimulate greater enrolment is awareness creation. We must let them be aware that there are great benefits in enrolling in the social security work of the government.”

    He noted that a lot has been done by the government and they are still doing that in trying to provide decent work for the populace.

    “For example, looking at it from the angle of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, we are basically out to provide a fair guarantee system for all those who are affected by occupational hazard and bring succour to them.

    “It is sad when two things happen to a man and that is when a breadwinner is gone and the bread itself is gone. That is why the NSITF is out to ensure that beneficiaries of those who suffer death as a result of being in active service are adequately rewarded.

    “We have a way of bringing succour to those who suffer disability up to covering their medical expenses. All these are being done to ensure that a decent environment is created. The drive and the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari is particularly in the area of social investment and a whole lot is being done.

    “Poverty alleviation comes from there, training and awareness are galvanised to provide very decent work for Nigerian workers.  This is a step in the right direction and in line with the ILO yearning for decent work,”  he said.

    He said just as prevention is better than cure, same applies to occupational hazard prevention, which is very key in the world of work.

    The NSITF boss said surveys were being done in the health and safety department and he has gone ahead to encourage them to include occupational hazard to the extent of asking for fire extinguishers.

    He stated further: “Awareness is being done in all areas and that is better than being a reactive person. If we are proactive in addressing all the issues, you will have safety and good work environment. At NSITF, we have a full department handling this area and we are trying to see how we can change the narratives.”

  • NSITF, BPP to validate contracting process

    The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has said the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007 will guide the award of contracts by the Fund with recourse to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to ensure  that the rules and regulations guiding such processes are complied with.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive of NSITF, Adebayo Somefun, who made this known in Abuja, also dispelled speculations that the Fund is currently engaged in a massive secret recruitment exercise.

    Somefun, who spoke through the General Manager Administration, Olusegun Basorun, said whenever the Fund recruits, it does not charge prospective applicants for job placements. He challenged anyone with credible evidence on such illegal charges to provide it.

    He explained: “For any government agency to collect money from job applicant, such vacancies must be advertised, which must tell the public how much to pay, whether such money is for scratch cards or something like that. It is a well-known fact that government had stopped payment for jobs by applicants. The National Assembly has frowned against such act.”

    He added that since the Treasury Single Account (TSA) came into operation, all government funds are automatically moved into that account.

    Dismissing the allegation that job racketeering is prevalent in the Fund, Somefun said: “Matters relating to recruitment form part of the schedule of the General Manager Administration, which include the authority to sign appointment letters as delegated.

    “But before such letters are issued, certain things must happen, one of which is the approval of the Federal Character Commission. The last time we recruited here was the first quarter of 2018, and since that time, no one has been recruited.

    “It is a criminal act to recruit without due process. The NSITF is a responsible organisation. All its recruitment exercises are guided by the constitution of the nation, extant rules and regulations particularly the Federal Government Circular of July 11, 2017.”

  • NSITF promises workers better deal

    Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Managing Director/Chief Executive Adebayo Somefun has promised workers better welfare.

    Speaking at a briefing in Lagos, he said the management ensured that registration of employers was completed in one day and the yearly compliance certificate issued within seven days.

    Certificates, he said, would  be issued online to boost efficiency.

    The Executive Director Operations, Mrs Kemi Nelson, said setting aside a special fund for  claims settlement remained topmost on the agenda of the management.

    To her, such step would ensure injured workers get compensation and those that require rehabilitation get the needed medical attention promptly.

    A former Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Peter Esele, who lauded the management team for remaining forward-looking and refused to be distracted by the non-inauguration of the board, said  matters relating to the inauguration and the attendant politics should be discarded forthwith.

    He said: “Now that the President has declared that Austin Enajemo-Esire should chair the board of NSITF, the matter should be closed because it is the prerogative of the President to decide who chairs the board. Now that there is a board, it is my expectation that it would manage the fund to the best of its ability and do better than the previous board.”

    He said it is the responsibility of the two members representing the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to ensure that the interest of the workers were protected.

    He added: “Whoever is representing the NLC on the NSITF board is there to carry out some sorts of oversight functions. A lot of things happened during the tenure of the last board in the presence of labour representatives. What were they doing then? Why didn’t they shout when things were not done properly for Nigerians to know? It is not good enough that their names were not mentioned as people that committed infractions. So, labour must examine itself.”

    At the event were the Executive Director Administration, Tijani Darazzo; and his Finance and Investment counterpart, Jasper Azutalam

  • Still on NSITF

    •Failure to audit the fund’s account for seven years signifies failure of government

    The Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) is meant to provide succour to employees who might get involved in workplace accidents, sustain injuries and similar distress. Wholly owned by the Federal Government, the fund gives effect to provisions under the Employees Compensation Act. However, the hopes of many who may be looking up to the mega specialised insurance firm for support is dangling as an investigation panel has indicted the past board and management of the fund of mishandling N48 billion of the N62 billion remitted to it by the public and private sector companies, parastatals and organisations, since 2012.

    This, the government has attributed to poor governance methods and procedures that necessitated the dissolution of the former board, sack of the managing director and three executive directors. Failure to audit the fund’s accounts for seven years is an indictment of the supervising ministry and all those saddled with providing guidance and leadership for all government-owned institutions. It is unfortunate that the process of investigating, indicting, dissolving the former board and constituting a new one had to take this government as long as three years.

    The sloppiness that attended the inauguration of the new board is an indication that government has not fully appreciated the need for putting up a proper structure for the fund. We hope that the inauguration, last week, would mark a new beginning, especially against the backdrop of the face-off between organised labour and the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, over the chairmanship of the NSITF board. Labour had claimed that  Chief Frank Kokori, a veteran labour leader who stuck out his neck to fight for the country during the struggle to send the military packing from government was given a rough treatment in the process of appointing a new chairman for the board.

    But, contrary to labour’s claim, the government said there was never a time it named Chief Kokori as chairman of the NSITF. Although the clarification came so late, it said the Prince Austin Enajemo-Isire-led board that was eventually inaugurated was picked because of Enajemo-Isire’s wealth of experience, to sanitise the place. A face-saving appointment of Chief Kokori as chairman of the Michael Imoudu Institute of Labour Studies could not soothe the pain caused the labour leader and the Nigerian workers who felt insulted by what they saw as indignity Chief Kokori suffered in the process.

    We call on the Federal Government to be more thorough in performing its functions. While we acknowledge the professional pedigree of Prince Enajemo-Isire that makes him suitable for the appointment at a point the rot by the previous board left must be cleared, we find it difficult to accept that a board chairman would be so involved in the daily running of the organisation when he is not appointed as the chief executive.

    Henceforth, the accounts of all government ministries, departments and agencies must be audited annually. Boards and management committees of defaulting bodies should be promptly sanctioned. In the instant case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should ensure that those involved are not just prosecuted, the public should be regularly briefed on developments on the matter. At a time Nigeria is faced with acute economic crisis, the point must resonate that it can no longer be business as usual. Public assets must be entrusted to only those worthy of the trust.

  • NSITF: Over 87,000 employers register under ECS

    The Nigeria Industrial Social Trust Fund (NSITF) said 87,179 employers have been registered under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) to affirm compliance with the ECA 2010. This is to respond to the move by the House of Representatives to enforce ECS compliance.

    NSITF Managing Director, Adebayo Somefun, who spoke with The Nation,  said it covers more than 6.7 million employees.

    He said the increase in registration has accounted for a 35 per cent increase in contribution collection.

    He said: “In order to boost statutory compliance by employers of labour and to shore up contributions so that a meaningful Employees’ Compensation Scheme can be provided to Nigerian workers, the present management sought the assistance of the House of Representatives.

    “Consequently, the House moved a motion to enforce compliance to the ECS and two public hearings have been held on the motion. As part of the response to this, a total number of 87,179 employers have been registered under the ECS to affirm their compliance with the ECA 2010.

    “This number covers more than 6.7 million employees. The increase in registration has thus far, accounted for a 35 per cent increase contribution collection.”

    He said more than 24,880 claims and compensation have been paid to beneficiaries under various contingencies in the last two years.

    “Employees’ compensation is our primary function and we have not failed in this regard. In the last two years since this management team took over. Twenty-four thousand, eight hundred and eighty (24,880) claims and compensation have been paid to beneficiaries under different contingencies. This is a record in the history of the Fund.

  • FG adamant, says Kokori was never NSITF chair nominee

    • Buhari only approved him as chairman Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS)
    • Details of Ngige’s row with NLC emerge

    There were strong indications yesterday that the Federal Government did not at any time nominate labour hero, Comrade Frank Kokori as chairman of the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

    Labour and Employment Minister  Chris Ngige only recommended Kokori to head the Board of the Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS), highly placed sources told The Nation yesterday.

    It was learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Kokori as the chairman of the labour institute and not NSITF.

    It was gathered that following an alleged  N62,358,401,927 scandal in NSITF and the recommendations of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry, the minister  sought the help of the immediate past Commissioner for Insurance of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to shop for a chairman who could help in  reforming NSITF.

    The search led to the appointment of Mr. Austin Enajemo – Isire, who the Minister had never met, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    These details are contained in a document on the face-off between the Minister and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    The fact-sheet sighted by our correspondent sheds light on  the appointment of a chairman for the NSITF and the disagreement between  the NLC and Ngige.

    The fact-sheet says: “The appointment of the Chairman for the Board of NSITF is a straight forward engagement by the Minister recommending a fit and proper neutral person to Mr. President for appointment. So also   even for the appointment of the MD and EDs.

    “Here the ILO principle on tripartite representation comes into play which in this situation does not permit any of the partners to dictate to another on who is to represent them in a meeting, consultations, negotiation or on any joint venture like the NSITF, provided the person nominated has no criminal record against the law of that country.

    “So when NLC President approached the Hon. Minister some time  in 2017 to inform him that he and other Social Partner, the then Director-General of Nigeria Employers Consultative Association ( NECA)  submitted an NSITF Chairman nominee to the office of the Vice President, the Minister bluntly told him that it was incongruous for NLC or NECA to do so as it breached the Law and was also an erosion of the Minister’s function to nominate fit and proper persons to the offices listed in the Act.

    “Further investigations by the Minister revealed that NECA DG at the time did not participate nor had any hand in the so-called nomination. The Minister promptly wrote to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to point out the anomaly, and informed him that by his discussion with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the NSITF was a specialized board that its Chairman needed to be shopped for,  more so with the peculiar financial distress afflicting the organization.

    “Ngige said it was not for NLC to make such a nomination in consonance with the Act.

    “It was at this point that the Minister discovered that the name forwarded by NLC was that of Comrade Frank Kokori, a veteran NUPENG General Secretary, that the Minister also held in high esteem. Who then submitted Kokori’s name for the chairmanship of the Board of NSITF? Only the NLC President Ayuba Waba can explain this.

    “The Tripartite representation of 4 (four) persons for the social partners (i.e. NECA & NLC) having been attained, a neutral chairman was then needed just like in the composition of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee (TNMWC) where a neutral, fit & proper person was called upon to come and Chair because of her cognate experience.”

    Read also: AOCOED to hold joint convocations

    The document also explains how Ngige accords Kokori respect he deserves as a labour hero.

    It adds: “This notwithstanding, the Minister invited Comrade Kokori to a dinner and thereafter asked him to send his Curriculum Vitae for evaluation and told him pointedly that a nomination was made even though incongruous but the Minister will like to get the CV as he did not know his other background except as a Labour Leader – as Former General secretary of NUPENG, that played a formidable role. This was about November 2017. Comrade Kokori sent in his CV for evaluation.

    “Many things happened in quick succession thereafter. Before a week, the NLC President wrote a letter of congratulations to Mr. President for appointing Comrade Kokori to Chair the NSITF Board and copied the Minister, then leaked the letter to the media even when the Minister had not made any recommendation to Mr. President.

    “All these antics were aimed at blackmailing and railroading the Hon. Minister and Mr. President into a forced acquiescence. Comrade Kokori himself went to Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture in January 2018 rained tirade of abuses on the Hon. Minister for delaying his inauguration as Chairman, following his appointment in November, 2017 and accused the Minister of trying to be in-charge of NSITF to award contracts and milk the juice in the place and favour the Ibos and his village people as recruits into the NSITF.

    “He threatened to call out NUPENG Members to a “fight” if after one month he is not sworn in. He actually in April 2018 attended the NUPENG NEC in session meeting and reported ‘Minister Ngige’for trying to humiliate him – the freedom fighter of Nigeria’s Democracy.

    “He reported the Minister to the Senate Committee on Labour, Productivity, Employment and the House of Representatives counterpart with strongly worded petitions. The Minister attended to the queries by both House Committees of course explaining the situation he met NSITF financially frustrated in November 2015 when he assumed duty and what the situation was and that nomination of Comrade Kokori was irregular and anomalous and that of course this was an Executive responsibility that does not need a Senate screening. He referred the Lawmakers to Section 4(a) of the NSITF Act.

    “After this, Comrade Kokori, with the NLC declared “total war” on  the Minister and wrote letters in quick succession asking Mr. President to “sack” the Minister for sabotaging his good intention of appointing Comrade Kokori and for delaying the good job NLC and Kokori wanted to bring to the place, even though they had members in the former Board, who looked the other way when N62 Billion Government and employers contributions were “feasted” on after butchering.

    “Not done at the June 12, 2018 ceremony where President Buhari honoured the Late MKO Abiola as President, Comrade Kokori after delivering his Goodwill message reported to the President that his Minister Ngige has deliberately refused to swear him into the Chairmanship position of the NSITF Board. Of course, Mr. President had had more briefing from his Minister.”

    The document explained that only  Mr. Austin Enajemo – Isire was appointed by the President to be the chairman of NSITF.

    It said: “The Minister in exercise of the functions of his office and recommendations of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry sought the help of the immediate past Commissioner for Insurance of NAICOM and got a square peg to fill the square hole.

    “That was how Mr. Austin Enajemo – Isire,  a Chartered Accountant, Fellow Chartered Institute of Insurance of Nigeria (CIIN), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), and Chartered Institute of Taxation (ACTI) came in. This candidate has a rich background needed as an Insurance Executive to chart a new course for the NSITF. The Minister had never met Mr. Isire until he was recommended after the CV evaluation.

    “The  Minister found this nominee fit and proper person and recommended him to Mr. President, who had no difficulty in approving the nomination in consonance with the relevant NSITF Act.

    “The Minister also recommended Comrade Kokori to head the Board of the Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS) a Diploma awarding institute named after a veteran Labour Leader, Michael Imoudu and the President magnanimously approved.

    “At this point, some NLC and NUPENG officers complained to the Minister and rejected MINILS Board because it is not  juicy.

    “They said that they and Comrade Kokori had after their meeting  rejected the appointment. They said it is either NSITF or nothing, even as the Honourable Minister had never at any time nominated Comrade Kokori for NSITF Board Chairman.

    “All attempts to explain to them the financial situation of the NSITF required a man with financial and insurance cognate experience fell on deaf ears, as the NLC claimed it was their right to  produce the Chairman and that they have made their nomination and that the contribution in the NSITF is “workers money.”

    The document clarifies why the board of NSITF is yet to be inaugurated because of disruption by some labour leaders.

    It adds: “Using all antics, when the full list of the Board Members was sent for screening at the DSS, the NLC representatives dragged their feet,  refusing to go for the screening in October, 2017 when the Minister was ready to inaugurate the Board. At a time, one of the nominees dropped off from the Board without the NLC informing nobody. It took the Minister’s effort to get this information and wrote the NLC in January, asking for their nominees – Comrades Peter A. Adeyemi and Ibrahim Khaleel to make themselves available to the DSS for screening. Khaleel underwent screening in late March, 2019 and Adeyemi was replaced by Adeyanju who was also screened in April, 2019.

    “After the security clearance of the Chairman and other nominees, an inauguration was arranged for them on the 18thApril, 2019. This event was however aborted as the programme was disrupted by the invasion of the Hon. Minister’s Conference Room by the NLC and NUPENG members with NLC President seizing the Honourable Minister’s Conference Room singing solidarity song in a lightening operation in which the staff of the Ministry and Honourable Minister’s office were man handled and beated up  and the entire Ministry was taken over by hoodlums protesting against the nomination of the Chairman of Board who they insisted, should be Comrade Frank Kokori or nobody else.

    “Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to inaugurate the duly constituted board as soon as possible.”

     

  • NLC to Buhari: raise judicial commission of inquiry to probe NSITF

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to institute a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the activities of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) since the dissolution of the last board to unearth the financial dealings in the organisation.

    The call is coming as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, asked workers who are members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to disregard the directive by their President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, to embark on a national protest on Monday over the attack on workers while picketing the his house on Wednesday, describing the call as unlawful.

    At the end of its Central Working Committee meeting on Thursday at the Labour House in Abuja, Wabba tod newsmen that the congress had decided to embark on a national protest in Abuja on Monday against the minister’s action of “inviting thugs” to attack workers.

    The workers had gone to the house of the Minister to picket him over failure to inaugurate the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) headed by Chief Frank Kokori.

    President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the call for a commission of inquiry has become necessary since the Minister has alluded to the fact that there was corruption in the agency which handles the social welfare of Nigerian workers.

    Wabba said: “Since the minister has been talking about corruption in the NSITF, we are calling for a judicial commission where everybody, including the minister, should go and make presentations. So that at the end of the day, we should be able to unearth those behind the corruption he is talking about.

    “We want to find out if the board that has not been inaugurated is responsible for this fraud he is talking about or whether this corruption was carried out under his watch as a sole administrator of the NSITF.

    “We are against corruption. That was why when he said he wanted to clean up the place after EFCC forensic audit of the place, we agreed with him. But he has been looking for different excuses not to inaugurate the board, even when the President directed him to do so.

    “The NLC had two representatives in the dissolved board, and after the EFCC investigation, nothing was found against any of our people there. It was his Permanent Secretary that was arraigned in court.

    “So, we are asking the President to set up the commission so that we all go there and tell them all that we know for the whole world to see.”

    Wabba insisted that workers would be on the streets in Abuja on Monday on a national protest, which is the first in the series of activities lined up to ensure that the minister does not have his way.

    However, Special Assistant on Media to the minister, Nwachukwu Obidiwe, said in a statement made available to newsmen that calling out workers on a “flimsy and selfish” excuse of non-inauguration of the board of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) with Comrade Frank Kokori as the Chairman did not constitute a trade dispute as contained in the Labour Act.

    He said: “The issue in question is political. It is about the exclusive right of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make an appointment.

    “This is clearly outside the purview of the Trade Union and Trade Disputes Act, hence imperative for workers to go about their normal businesses.

    “It is important to state here that every worker is supposed to put in eight hours of work per day for five days in a week in line with the ILO Convention.

    “Therefore, using the office hours for such protest without the approval of the employers is unlawful.

    “The forty hours a week which the Nigerian workers subscribed to should be used for productive ventures, especially in view of the new National Minimum Wage and the consequential financial adjustments.”

    He dismissed the directive by the NLC to workers to attack him and his family members anywhere they were sighted, describing it as a criminal offence for which he was already taking necessary legal action.

    A civil society organisation, Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy, wants President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the crisis, saying the long silence of the President was not helping matters.

    The group in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade (Engr.) Igbini Odafe Emmanuel, however, condemned the invasion of the residence of the minister, saying although Dr. Ngige was a minister of the federal republic, he was still entitled to his privacy, adding that the person of Chief Frank Kokori does not deserve the level of humiliation being extended to him by the controversy surrounding the inauguration of the board of the NSITF.

  • NSITF: over N2b claims paid since inception

    The Nigeria Industrial Social Trust Fund (NSITF) has paid N2.4 billion compensation to workers, who were victims of occupational hazards since inception.

    Speaking at the organisation’s celebration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in Lagos, NSITF Regional Manager Mrs. Olufunke Aleshinloye said the organisation since the inception of ECA to March 2019, has paid N2,328,225,091.46 for 27,825 claims.

    According to her, the NSITF has 338 dependants on its monthly payroll, 448 disabled beneficiaries and 54 disabled employees provided with prosthesis.

    She urged employees and employers to buy into the vision of zero harm at workplaces to enhance productivity and national development.

    She said: “Since 2003, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) observes the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, capitalising on its traditional strength of tripartism among trade unions, employers’ organisations and government representatives alike.

    “The ILO acknowledges the shared responsibility of key stakeholders and encourages them to promote a preventive safety and health culture to fulfil their obligations and responsibilities for preventing deaths, injuries and diseases in the workplace, allowing workers to return safely to their homes at the end of working day,” she said.

    Mrs. Aleshinloye noted that the NSITF dream for the future of work was zero harm at workplaces, listing the steps toward achieving this to include, among others, training the minds of people to take ownership of safety; designing a safe system of work; enforcement of occupational safety and health standards in workplaces; keeping proper records and management’s commitment to safety and health.

    The NSITF in pursuit of the Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010, she said,  protects Nigerian workers in the private and public sectors from difficulties arising from workplace accidents by providing adequate and timely compensation for employees or their dependants for any death, injury, disease or disability arising from or in the course of employment.

    She stressed that safe and healthy workplaces provided the consistency and reliability needed to build a community and grow a business.

    To mark the day, members of the staff embarked on an awareness and sensitisation walk, from the office in Maryland, Lagos, towards the roundabout down to Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, sharing handbills containing vital information on safety and health to residents and passersby.

  • NSITF: Ngige attempting to bend the truth, says NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, is attempting to bend the truth on the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

    The nation’s umbrella labour union said the more he attempted to hide the truth, the more the truth would come out.

    Speaking with The Nation, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the narrative the minister had been giving on the issue is false and unexpected of a public figure like him.

    The labour leader said this explained why he (minister) could not attend the May Day celebration, despite the invitation to him to do so.

    He said the nomination of Chief Frank Kokori was not from the labour but the result of his achievements and contributions to national development.

    Wabba said: “Ngige should know that he is a minister of labour and not a minister of his house. Labour is about people, labour is about managing the people and managing the unions.

    “We have said it clearly that all the narrative he is giving is false and such is not expected of a public figure like him.

    “I thank God because all I said on the issue at the May Day rally in Abuja was confirmed by the Vice-President (Prof Yemi Osinbajo), who attended the event.

    “I told the Vice-President that we never nominated Frank Kokori but he was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts in Delta State, and the Vice-President said yes.

    “He confirmed that it was the committee, which also includes himself and the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    “So, Kokori got his appointment as a stalwart of the APC in Delta State. They actively forwarded his name. So, for the minister to go to the media and say we nominated Kokori is a false, and the Vice-President is around to confirm it.”

    The NLC president said of all the boards that were inaugurated some time ago, it was only the one headed by Kokori that the minister refused to inaugurate.

    He said the board was supposed to be inaugurated on July 28, 2018. He said it was the minister that sent Kokori’s name to the Department of State Services (DSS) for screening.

    “If Kokori is not appointed, why did he send his name? It was agreed that a board would be inaugurated on July 28, 2018.

    “In fact, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs Odusote, was to chair the inauguration. Others were involved. But suddenly, the story changed; he refused to inaugurate it.

    “We are going to engage him fully because he has been the sole administrator of the fund. He has benefited and enjoyed the fund. So, he will not willingly relinquish the power,” he said.

    Also, in a statement by his media aide, Nwachukwu Obidiwe, the minister insisted that the NLC’s insistence on Kokori was to allow for corruption at the NSITF.

  • NSITF crisis: NLC accuses Ngige of resorting to ethnic sentiment

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige of resorting to ethnic sentiments in his bid to keep the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) within his “Sole Proprietorship”.

    Reacting to a statement credited to the FCT chapter of the pan Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, the NLC said the resort to ethnic sentiments by the Minister over the NSITF issue is a clear indication that he has something to hide.

    The statement signed by the General Secretary of Congress, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson said while the NLC is a pan Nigerian organisation and has carried out its activities without resort to ethnic or religious colouration,  it has over the years engage Ministers of labour on issues relating to workers and their welfare and challenged the Minister to a public television debate on the issue of NSITF in order to set the records straight.

    The Congress asked the national leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo to be wary of persons within its fold who are bent on dragging the name of the organisation to the mud.

    The statement recalled that the Minister’s political and the President had asked him to inaugurate the board of the NSITF, an instruction it said the Minister failed to carry out.

    The statement reads: “our attention has been drawn to a statement published in The Nation of 3rd May 2019, and credited to the FCT Chairman of Ohaneze, Federal Capital Territory, one Odozi Nwodozi, in the defense of the less than honourable conduct of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, over the matter of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

    “The facts of what had transpired between Nigerian workers and the Minister of Labour are in the public domain. The issue at stake does not have any tinge of ethnic or religious colouration. We are, therefore, surprised at the recent borrowing of ethnic voices in the defense of the Minister of Labour and Employment.

    “As sad as this new low by the Minister and his hired voice is, we must remind the Minister that gone are the days when a public officer will commit an offence or steal public money and then hide under ethnic or religious banner for protection.

    “The Nigeria Labour Congress is a pan Nigerian organization with a reputation for conducting itself dispassionately and for speaking truth to power. The NLC is populated by workers from all religious and ethnic orientations and can never play the sectarian or ethnic card. “The decision to engage the Minister of Labour was taken at the recently held NLC’s 12th National Delegates Conference – the highest decision-making body of Congress. This was after all efforts including quiet persuasions from the NLC, the advice of the national leadership of the political party to which Dr. Ngige belongs and even a straightforward directive by Mr. President himself failed to make the Minister of Labour see reasons and do the needful.

    “This is not the first time that Organized Labour is engaging less than altruistic Labour Ministers. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole engaged very robustly a former Minister of Labour, Chief Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas over some of the latter’s anti-labour positions despite the fact that they are from the same geo-political zone.

    “During the time of Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, the then Minister of Labour, J.M.

    Johnson was engaged robustly on labour issues. Mr. Johnson never resorted to ethnic jingoism for cover.

    “It is most unfortunate that Dr. Chris Ngige is the first Labour Minister to introduce ethnic colouration as an escape route from the smoke of industrial disquiet emanating from a fire entirely stoked by him. Even workers from the village of Dr. Chris Ngige had protested against the stand of the Minister on this matter.

    “We wish to reiterate our deep respect for Ohaneze as a pan Igbo socio-cultural organization. It is, however, unfortunate that somebody in the lower cadre of Ohaneze leadership could be seduced to misuse his position to achieve the narrow objectives of a politician.

    “We urge the national leadership of Ohaneze to be wary of such characters who are wont not only to tarnish, but also to destroy the good image that Ohaneze has built for itself over the years.

    “We wish to candidly advise the Minister to quit using the press to malign the people he should be protecting. The way and manner that Dr. Chris Ngige is going about this NSITF issue clearly shows that he has a lot to hide and there is a lot he is not willing to tell Nigerians. The Minister should stop twisting the truth as most Nigerians are in the know of what he has been doing with the NSITF.

    “We urge the Minister of Labour and Employment to redeem whatever is left of his image by inaugurating the NSITF board under the chairmanship of Chief Frank Kokori without further delay. Finally, for the benefit of Nigerians who are unaware of the intrigues of the Minister of Labour to keep the NSITF under his Sole Proprietorship, we challenge him and other stakeholders to an electronic media debate on this matter so that the truth can be exposed.”