The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) account has not
been audited since 2012, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator
Chris Ngige disclosed on Monday.
He spoke just as controversy surrounding headship NSITF) was
laid to rest when the Minister finally inaugurated the Austin
Isire- led board.
He spok disclosed some undeclared amount of money and property
are being recovered from those who deep their hand into the funds
of the agency.
The inauguration of the board was moved to the Presidential
Villa to prevent another disruption of the process by Organised
Labour, which insisted that only a board headed by Chief Frank
Kokori is acceptable.
Addressing the board members, Ngige said the process leading to
the inauguration has been long and tortuous due to conditions
needed to be addressed and resolved.
He advised them to stay away from the award of contract but
leave the parastatal tenders’ board under the supervision of the
Bureau for Public Procurement to handle this.
Ngige said: “Though this Board is being inaugurated much later
than its contemporaries, the NSITF is however better set to welcome
a new Board than it was at the time when the other Boards of the
Ministry were inaugurated.
“As you all may be aware, the last Board and Management of the
NSITF left negative trails inimical to development and progress for
both the human and infrastructural components of the Agency.
“The criminal investigations by the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission (EFCC) and the subsequent Administrative Panel of
Enquiry investigations revealed financial atrocities that would go
down the annals of history of the NSITF as shameful and
monstrous.
“At a time, the national dailies and social media were agog with
the news of corruption and deep sleaze by some members of the
previous Board in collusion with some top Management Staff of the
Agency who aided and abetted the looting of both Government and
Private Sector Funds of about N48 Billion from the N62 Billion
contributions between 2012 – 2015 of the NSITF.
“This resulted in about four Board Members including the last
Chairman being arraigned and charged to court by the EFCC. Some
monies have been paid back to Government Treasury and about 37
Houses are now under forfeiture.
“The Administrative Panel report also indicted some Board
members and NSITF Management Officers.
“The affected Officers have now been shown the way out, and many
more indicted Officers by the Auditor General’s Periodic Report on
the NSITF will soon be made to refund the monies illegally taken
from the Fund.
“The Auditor General of the Federation (AUGF) had to be
requested by us in 2017 when it became clear that there was no
Audited Account for the place for five years to undertake the
Constitutional periodic check.”
The Minister stressed for the first time, members appointed into
the board were made to go through security screening which involved
declaration of their assets before inauguration and assumption of
duty.
He charged the Board members to ensure proper conduct of the
affairs of the Agency to restore the confidence of the Nigerian
Public in the administration of the fund collected for the
execution of the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA), 2010 which is
the major mandate of the Fund, especially in view of the fact that
it is the funds contributed by the Public and Private Sectors to
execute this mandate.
The new board headed by Prince Austin Enajemo–Isire as Chairman
has as members Olawale Osuolale Timothy and Dr. Mohammed, J. Yinusa
(NECA), Com. Waheed Adewale Adeyanju and Com. Ibrahim Khaleel,
Nigeria (NLC), Ifeoma Anyawutaku (Federal Ministry of Labour
&Employment), Mrs. Umma Aminu Dutse (Central Bank of Nigeria),
Jasper Azutalam, NSITF, Executive Director (Finance and
Investment), Tijani Suleiman Darazo, NSITF, Executive Director
(Administration), Titilola Olukemi Nelson, NSITF, Executive
Director (Operations), Adebayo K. Somefun, NSITF, Managing
Director/Chief Executive and Mrs. Ijeoma Oji Okoronkwo, Deputy
General Manager -NSITF, who will serve as the Board Secretary
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Troops in rescue operation
Nigerian Troops Rescue 54 Hostages from Boko Haram
Terrorists in Borno
Troops of 22 Brigade, Operation LAFIYA DOLE in collaboration
with local vigilantes have continued moving into the hinterland on
clearance operation to destroy Boko Haram terrorists. Consequently,
on the 11th of May 2019, troops effectively cleared Ma’allasuwa and
Yaga – Munye villages in Borno State. No encounter with Boko Haram
terrorists was made as they run away before troops’ arrival leaving
behind 54 suspected kidnapped victims. Out of the number, 29 are
grown up women and 25 are children of various ages and sex. They
have all been rescued.
Similarly, at Zari – Kasake and Jumachere villages in Damasak
general area of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, troops
of 145 Battalion Operation LAFIYA DOLE on clearance operation
discovered and destroyed two Boko Haram terrorists’ logistics
vehicles. Deserted BHTs make up shift accommodation was also
destroyed.
Additionally, Mopol Sergeant Markus John – Personal Number – PNo
383106 was arrested at Njimtilo check point along Maiduguri –
Damaturu road in possession of 2 magazines, 146 rounds of 7.62 mm
Special ammunition and one round of Anti Aircraft Gun concealed in
his bag while on transit to Lagos State.
Recall that on the 10th of May 2019, troops of Operation LAFIYA
DOLE in conjunction with the Nigerian Police, arrested 14NA7113208
Private Paul Ojochegbe and 12NA672586 Lance Corporal Oko Eke in
possession of one disassembled AK 47 Rifle at the same N’jimtilo
checkpoint.
Nigerian Army will remain resolute in ending terrorism and other
forms of insecurities across the country, and reiterate its appeal
to the public to continue to provide useful information about
suspicious movement of terrorists/criminals wherever they are seen
hibernating in Nigeria.
SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Acting Director Army Public Relations
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