The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association(NECA) has described as false reports that the governing board of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has recommended the suspension of the management of the fund over alleged financial infractions.
Director-General of NECA, Timothy Olawale on Sunday said it was wrong for Ngige to issue such statements when the governing board of the fund never met to consider any of such.
He said as a member of the board of the fund, NECA was not part of any board meeting where such a decision was taken.
According to him, while the association will not hold brief for NSITF, but would not accept being
used through impersonation to give credence to the illegality of circumventing the due process of doing what is right through the Governing Board of the Fund.
“Our attention has been drawn to the several reports in the National media insinuating that the Governing Board of NSITF met to consider alleged infractions against the management of NSITF and consequently made recommendations to the Hon Minister of Labour Senator Chris Ngige.
“A basis upon which the public is being misinformed that due process was followed by the Minister in seeking the Presidency’s approval for actions against the Fund’s management.
“While not holding brief for the Management of NSITF, NECA wishes to set the record straight that it is not against investigation or probe of
NSITF management if Government so wishes. NECA is an independent organization representing the interests of Employers of Labour who contributes the largest pool of fund to NSITF.
“Our aversion is against being used through impersonation to give credence to the illegality of circumventing the due process of doing what is right through the Governing Board of the Fund.
“We wish to clarify that there was no deliberation at any time at the board on matters bordering on alleged financial infractions by the management. These issues were never brought up, referred to the board, or tabled for consideration, not to talk of any correspondence from the board to the minister for actions.
“The records are there for verification and members of the board including representatives of NLC and CBN on the Board are also alive to verify the truth. NECA is not against the Minister as head of the supervising Ministry taking whatever actions he deemed right in his capacity but takes exception to misrepresentation and misleading information to the public.
“It would be interesting in the public interest to divulge the identities of the board members behind the said petition. Some stakeholders may be fooled by misinformation and misrepresentations, but NECA refuses to fall for illegality as we owe contributors to the Fund who are employers of labour represented by us and the citizenry the duty of due diligence and forthrightness.
“As for repeated references to complicity by past representatives of NECA’ on the board, the matter has been investigated by government agencies and is currently a subject of Litigation in the courts. We will not dwell on it as it is subjudice”
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