Buhari Suspends NSITF MD, Somefun, 3 Directors, 8 Others

Buhari suspends NSITF MD, Somefun, 3 Directors, 8 others
Appoints Dr. Kelly Nwagha, Acting MD
*Suspended officials to face Investigative Panel over financial infractions

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate, compulsory, and indefinite suspension from Office of the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Adebayo Somefun.

Also suspended from office are three executive directors, Mr. Jasper Ikedi Azuatalam, Executive Director, Finance and Investment, Mrs. Olukemi Nelson, Executive Director, Operations, and Alhaji Tijani Darazo Sulaiman, Executive Director, Administration.

Other management staff suspended are the General Manager, Administration/Human Resources/Maintenance, the General Manager, Finance, Mr. Lawan Tahir, Mr. Chris Esedebe, General Manager, Claims and Compensation, Mr. Olodotun A. Adegbite, Deputy General Manager, Investment and Treasury Management, Mr. Emmanuel Enyinnaya Sike, Deputy General Manager, Finance and Accounts, Mrs. Olutoyin O. Arokoyo, Deputy General Manager/Acting Head, Legal, Ms. Dorathy Zajeme Tukura, Deputy General Manager, Administration, Mrs. Victoria Ayantuga, Assistant General Manager, Internal Audit

A statement signed by the Deputy Director/Head, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Charles Akpan, stated that the suspension was as a result of the preliminarily established prima facie infractions on the extant Financial Regulations and Procurement Act, and other acts of gross misconduct.

According to the statement, “During the period of their suspension, the suspended Officers are to face a Joint Board and Audit Investigative Panel that has been set up to look into the financial and procurement breaches, as well as gross misconduct in the NSITF for periods of 2016 to date, which have invariably put the Contributions of stakeholders in a perilous state.

“The affected officers have also been directed to hand over to the most senior Officers in their respective Departments. The Executive Directors are therefore to hand over to the most senior General Managers, while the Managing Director will hand over to the most Senior Officer in the Fund.

“The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment accordingly approved and directed that: Mrs. Temitope Akinwale, FCA, a fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants, and Regional General Manager in charge of the Ibadan Region should take charge as General Manager in charge of Finance and to concurrently oversee the Office of the Executive Director of Finance and Investment as the Acting Executive Director.

“Barrister (Mrs.) Maureen Allagoa, FIPM, also the Regional General Manager in charge of Port Harcourt Region moves to NSITF Headquarters as General Manager in charge of Administration, Human Resources, and Maintenance and to concurrently oversee the Office of the Executive Director of Administration as Acting Executive Director.

“Mr. Baba Ma’aji Kabir, General Manager of Administration and Maintenance moves to the Enforcement Department while concurrently overseeing the Office of the Executive Director of Operations as the Acting Executive Director.

“Dr. Kelly Nwagha, General Manager of the Health, Safety and Environment Department, as the most senior General Manager in the Fund, assumes the position of Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive.

“All the appointments are with effect from Monday, 6th July 2020, and will last until further notice.

“The Honourable Minister has also charged the Chairman of the Board – Mr. Austin Enajemo Isire, FCA; FCII; to take charge, in order to ensure that the Investigative Panel commences work as soon as possible and for the Board to facilitate the smooth running of the Fund by creating the enabling environment and all the necessary staff adjustments and movements, in order to guarantee that services by staff to the Contributors do not in any way suffer.”

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