CSO faults suspension of NSITF MD, others

GROUP CALLED CIVIL SO CIETY Coalition for Transparency, CSCT, Friday, kicked against the alleged suspension of Bayo Somefun, managing director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, and other senior staff of the fund by the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige.

This was contained in a statement signed by Comrade Mike Femi, the president, CSCT, which described the alleged suspension as malicious and an act of hatred as it did not follow the civil service rules.

The statement reads in part, “We observed that the purported approval of the indefinite suspension of Somefun and other senior management staff of the NSITF for the alleged financial infraction is unconfirmed and cannot be substantiated owing to the fact that the minister‘s action is against the directive issued by the secretary to the government of the federation as instructed by Mr. President

“The circular clearly states that no minister should be suspended or sacked by any agency appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari ’For emphasis, on no account shall a minister of the federal republic unilaterally or arbitrarily remove a serving chief executive officer, without recourse to the procedure contained in this circular’’

“The memo also stated that ministers should follow procedures by going through the governing board of the agencies. Again, such recommendations should be forwarded to the SGF to act if need be. We therefore unanimously consider this suspension as illegal and a violation of due process.