Concerned employees of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) have alerted authorities to allegations of fraud and corruption within the organization where hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds are allegedly being siphoned off into private accounts.
It was learned that the concerned employees have requested assistance from the anti-corruption organizations Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to shine a spotlight on the organization and put an end to brigandage.
Recall that the agency was recently in the news for all the wrong reasons, with some reports alleging that top management had to go.
The staff, who spoke to newsmen on the condition of anonymity also decried the absence of a properly constituted board of the agency, after the expiration of the last one some few years.
In one disturbing case, it was learnt that correspondences meant for the Managing Director of the Agency, Dr Michael Akabuogu were allegedly intercepted by some management staff of NSITF and executed for payment to be made to contractors.
Allegations of high level of impunity in the agencies surfaced as further findings by confirm that the queries issued to the eering management staff by constituted authorities over the issues were rebuffed by the individuals.
While reacting to the reported resignation of the NSITF Managing Director, the concerned staff claimed that was false, and dismissed it as a case of corruption fighting back.
“What is happening today is that these looters who present themselves as contractors and their collaborators inside the NSITF are bitter that Akabogu 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 detail on his job, the concerned NSITF said.
It would also be recalled that the report from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) had listed the NSITF as one of the corrupt MDAs. The report was recently released.
However, when contacted, the General Manager/Head Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Ijeoma Oji-Okoronkwo said she cannot comment on the issue of corruption in the agency.
She said she was on leave and not in any picture of corruption issue at the agency.
Her words: “I am not aware of any corruption, l am on leave and l can only comment on what l know. I don’t know anything about corruption and ICPC report.”
