CSO urges EFCC, ICPC to sanitize NSITF

The Civil Society Coalition Against Corruption has called for the clean-up of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The coalition had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate the alleged non-remittance of N2.1 billion in workers’ tax deductions at NSITF.

According to the petition, signed on behalf of the coalition by Ayodeji Ologun of the Transparency and Accountability Group (TAG), the funds were deducted from workers’ salaries in 2022 but not remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Briefing newsmen Friday in Abuja the petition was submitted, the coalition alleged that the funds were invested with a company not approved by the board, instead of being remitted to the FIRS.

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Ologun said: “As a leading anti-corruption group in Nigeria, We have keenly watched happenings in this agency over the last two years and have painstakingly identified and investigated some of these frauds, particularly those related to procurement and non-remittance of taxes.

“We call on both the EFCC and ICPC to ensure that these funds are not looted by people masquerading as lovers of the masses.

“We demand that these contractors be investigated thoroughly to ascertain whether they genuinely took contracts from the agency or are merely fronting for corrupt officials.

“We demand that those found culpable should honourably resign and tender unreserved apologies to Nigerians for superintending and making the agency more corrupt.”

Reacting, the Fund’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nwachukwu Godson, dismissed the allegations as another “sound and furry” by extortionists and detractors.

Godson recalled that the NSITF had on May 14, 2024 challenged a cohort of TAG to prove similar allegations or take its trade elsewhere.

“We are not therefore surprised at this rehash of gratuitous allegations, a trifle perfunctory, with weak attempts at substantiation. We are not cowed by this unrewarding whining from a poorly articled traders of hurt and malice since our books are open and there is nothing really to hide.

“Forthwith, we state that the employment of the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the NSITF, first as General Manager was properly guided by sections 9(3) and (4) of the NSITF Act for employment, terms and conditions of service of staff and by Section 31(c) of the Employees Compensation Act (ECA) and not the Public Service Rule as bandied by TAG,” the statement said.