Reps summon labour minister over failure to inaugurate NSITF board
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, over his failure to constitute the board of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The summons follows a petition by the Help Foundation, a non-governmental organization, which expressed concern over the prolonged delay in appointing and inaugurating the board.
The NGO noted that while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed a Managing Director for the Fund, the full board was yet to be constituted, leading to governance lapses.
“This is a major irregularity, as the absence of a board has created room for several illegalities in the management of the agency,” the petition stated.
In response, the committee chairman, Mike Etaba, insisted that the minister must appear in person to address the concerns raised.
“The government is being called into question, and it is only proper that the minister provides clarity on the matter,” Etaba said.
Additionally, the committee has invited the Managing Director of NSITF, Faleye Mayomi, over allegations of regulatory violations related to project approvals within the agency.
The petition, submitted by the Advancement of Social Justice and Economic Development Initiative (ASJEDI), calls on the agency to justify certain actions that allegedly deviate from its mandate.
“Our role is to serve Nigerians efficiently and ensure due process is followed at all times. The invitation of the NSITF CEO is to allow him to clarify the issues raised,” Etaba added.
The committee is expected to proceed with its inquiry in the coming days.
