NSITF Debunks Allegations of Lopsided Staff Promotions

                                                                Managing Director of NSITF, Mr. Munir Abubakar

                                                                By Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has refuted allegations of lopsidedness in the promotion of its old and new staff members, insisting its promotion exercises have been in line with federal character demands, equity and fairness.

It also debunked reports of a frosty relationship between its management and its board, which allegedly was caused by the board’s seeming attempts to usurp the powers of the management.

The Managing Director of the Fund, Mr. Munir Abubakar made these clarifications after he received a Certificate of Commendation from a group of 40 civil society organisations in Abuja where he admitted that there may have been grievances with the promotion exercises at the organisation.

“Our promotion is executed based on government policy, which means we are guided by Federal Character, if we don’t, we would answer to the National Assembly.  It is possible some people have some grudges, but in everything we do, we ensure equity, we must ensure balance,” Abubakar said.

“The Act establishing us names us as management-board. Whatever I do as MD or someone does as Executive Director, we have the mandate of the board. We are a management board, not like other organisations. The board members are part-time, so they cannot always be here, we act on their behalf,” he added.

Expressing appreciation for the commendation from the group, Abubakar gave the assurance that the fund would not rest on its oars in delivering its mandate to Nigerian workers. He listed several achievements of the organisation in recent times which include the award of the prestigious ISO-27001 Certification by the British Standard Institute (BSI).

The Executive Director, Conscience Nigeria, Mr. Tosin Kabaki on behalf of the group lauded the efforts of the management and board of NSITF, which he said has seen to a massive transformation in the last five years.

He recalled the clamour for the passage of the Employees Compensation Act, which has provided a soft landing for workers to fall back on in case of injury sustained in the place of work.

“Nigerian employees in the private and public sectors now have a firm social insurance cover for injury suffered in the course of duty, as well as attendant benefits, in line with global best practices; thus affording the workers a secure future without fear of getting abandoned in the case of injury, disease or disability,” Kabaki said.