NSITF BOARD: No Record Of Audited Account In The Past Seven Years …Ngige

Amidst tight security in Abuja,the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige on Monday inaugurated the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, (NSITF), led by Austin Enajemo-Isire, despite protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The board Chairman, Austin Enajemo-Isire, is a Chartered Accountant, professional Insurance Executive, and Banker.

The NLC was represented at the inauguration ceremony by Comrades Adewale Adeyanju President General Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, President Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE.

 

The secretary of the committee is Mrs Ijeoma Okoronkwo. Other board members are Mr Olawale, Osuolale Timothy, (NECA) Dr Mohammed Yinusa, Dr. Ifeoma Anyanwutaku,  and Mrs. Dutse Aminu (CBN).

Other members are Mr Jasper Azutalam, Executive Director, Finance, Mr Tijani Suleiman, Executive Admin, Mrs Kemi Nelson, Executive Director, Operations and Mr. Ade Bayo Somefun, Managing Director & Chief Executive.

While the inauguration took place at the Old Banquet of the Presidential Villa, the protest was staged at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

 

The Minister of Labour ,shortly after the inauguration, called for the reports of NSITF audited account as soon as possible, alleging that there was no record of its audited account in the past seven years contrary to the act that established it.

 

Inaugurating the board, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Ngige recalled the alleged fraud uncovered under the past NSITF management which had been investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

 

The replacement of Chief Kokori who has been appointed to head Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), a diploma awarding labour institution, had pitched the NLC against Ngige.

 

This culminated in the particketing of the private residence of the Minister where suspected thugs allegedly descended on the protesters on Wednesday last week.

 

But the inauguration did not go without protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the alleged attack of labour members by suspected thugs at the private residence of the Minister in Asokoro and the replacement of the veteran labour leader Chief Frank Kokori as Chairman of the Fund’s board.