NSITF Workers Urge EFCC, ICPC To Probe Agency For Alleged Graft

Some concerned workers of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate cases of corruption and forgery in the agency.

But the fund’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Ijeoma Oji-Okoronkwo, denied knowledge of any corrupt practices in the agency.

The workers, who spoke in confidence, said several millions of naira have been taken out of the agency by some unnamed corrupt management workers.

They said the EFCC and the ICPC need to beam their searchlights on the agency before it is too late.

The workers also decried the absence of a properly constituted board for the agency, after the expiration of the tenure of the last board.

The last board of the NSITF, which has a three-year tenure, was constituted in 2019.

They claimed that correspondences meant for the Managing Director of the agency, Dr. Michael Akabuogu, were allegedly intercepted by some management workers, while queries issued to the erring workers in the top cadre over vital issues were not answered.

On the reported resignation of the NSITF Managing Director, the concerned workers described it as false and dismissed it as a case of corruption fighting back.

They said: “What is happening today is that the looters who present themselves as contractors and their collaborators inside the NSITF are bitter that Akabuogu stood in their way. So, they are desperate to ease him out by all means, including the publication of falsehood.

“We can authoritatively tell you that the MD is a meticulous person who is detailed on his job,” the concerned workers said.

In a report released recently, the ICPC had listed the NSITF as one of the most corrupt Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the country.

When contacted, NSTIF’s General Manager/Head Corporate Affairs Mrs. Ijeoma Oji-Okoronkwo said she would not comment on the matter and that she was not aware of corruption in the agency.

She said: “I am not aware of any corruption. I am on leave and I can only comment on what I know. I don’t know anything about corruption and the ICPC report.”