Confusion Trails Suspension Of NSITF Management

• NECA Flays Ngige’s Action. • Minister Insists He Got Buhari’s Approval • SGF, COS Keep Mum • Police May Raid Office Monday

THE management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust ( NSITF) has insisted that their suspension from office by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, did not receive the authorisation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This comes as the minister insisted that he got the approval of the President to suspend the management staff of the Fund, though he did not display the approval.

The Guardian gathered that steps have been taken to barricade the headquarters of the Fund on Monday to prevent entry of the suspended staffers, even as the handover to an interim management members nominated by the minister is expected to take place in the morning of the same day.

Speaking on the development, NSITF’S Executive Director, Finance and Investment, Jasper Azuatalam, said the minister’s arbitrary suspension of management members is a cause for concern.

He stated: “I am very worried and worried not by the purported suspension, but by abuse of government processes. I read where the minister mentioned that the management and some senior staff of the Fund have been suspended on the directive of Mr. President. “I can categorically say that the management has not received any letter from the

President pronouncing us suspended. We got a letter from the minister with the headlined, ‘ Financial and procurement audit of the NSITF,’ this week Monday and then he wrote suspension from office beneath it. He wrote to inform us that we have been suspended from office, because he is carrying out audit of the NSITF.

Read the remainder of this story on www. guardian. ng