The Nigeria Labour Congress says it will resist every attempt by the Labour Minister, Chris Ngige to secretly inaugurate the Board of the Nigeria Social insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), without former General Secretary of NUPENG, Frank Ovie-Kokori as Chairman.
The threat came just as Mr. Ngige on Thursday failed to inaugurate the 12-man board appointed in 2017 by then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.
In October, 2017, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, as Acting President announced the composition of the NSITF Board with former General Secretary of NUPENG, Frank Ovie-Kokori as Chairman.
More than eighteen months after, the Board is yet to be put in place as Mr. Ngige wont swear the members in.
A terse statement from the Ministry on Wednesday announced the readiness of the Minister to finally inaugurate the board but conspicuously missing was Kokori’s name, an action that compelled Labour to mobilise its members to the venue, in company of the veteran Labour leader.
Kokori had himself vowed to gate crash the event, if the Minister did not invite him.
After waiting for more than one hour for the Minister to make an appearance, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba energised his members.
Director, Human Resources in the Ministry, Ibrahim Ajibola, announced the inauguration would no longer hold, citing the absence of some members of the board, a claim Labour insisted was untrue
Labour has now called for a probe into the administration of the NSITF run by Mr. Ngige in the last three and a half years.
NLC says it will lay siege on Mr. Ngige’s office and homes both in Abuja and Anambra state until Mr Kokori and other duly appointed members are sworn in.
