The Federal government has beamed its searchlight on the leadership of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Funds (NSITF) with a view to ascertaining its management of the sum of N62.3 billion.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, inaugurated the administrative panel of enquiry to probe what he described as “various acts of fraudulent diversions” from contributions made to the NSITF from both the Federal government and the private sector.
The contributions, according to the minister, amounted to N62.3 billion as at 2015, adding that the fraud was allegedly perpetrated by past board members and management staff of the NSITF.
Already, four management staff, including the General Manager, Social Security and past Acting Managing Director, Ishmaila Agaka; the Deputy General Manager Audit, Zwalda Ponkap; General Manager, Information Communication and Technology, Catherine Ugbe and the General Manager, Compensation Health and Safety, Dr. Kelly Nwagha, have been sent on compulsory leave.
Also, two other staff – General Manager Legal, Adebayo Aderibigbe and the Deputy General Manager Finance, Henry Ekhasomi have already been charged to court by the EFCC.
In carrying out their duty, the panel of enquiry, headed by the Director of Finance and Account, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Ishaya Awotu, is to interview and interact with the former Chairman of NSITF, Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme, the immediate past four executive directors, the ex-director Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Richard Uche, ex-director Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Aderemi Adegboyega and the former Managing Director, Umar Munir Abubakar.
While inaugurating the panel in Abuja yesterday, the minister said: “The need for an Administration Panel of Enquiry arose out of the necessity to purge the NSITF of all negative colourations inflicted by the last board and administration of the establishment.
“As you may all be aware, the last board and administration of NSITF left negative trails inimical to any advancement and progress for both the human and infrastructural components of the NSITF.