NSITF Staff Petitions Head of Service over Non-remittance of Housing Fund

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja  

Aggrieved workers of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has petitioned the Head of Service of the Federation accusing the management of breach of the rules in carrying out recruitment and demotion of staff.

As a follow-up to the petition, the workers have threatened to hold rally tomorrow at the premises of the NSITF in Abuja.

The staff of NSITF had earlier staged similar protests at the Fund’s offices across the federation.

The staff under the auspices of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NSITF- Domestic branch) asked the Head of Service to investigate all the allegations levelled against the management of the Fund.

In the petition jointly signed by the president of the association, Baba Tijani, General Secretary, Abdulkadir and Chairman of NUBIFE (NSITF – branch), Opeoluwa Ogunfowore, the union urged the Head of Service to order an investigation into the issues and allegations raised in the petition.

“We write to bring to your attention a serious violation of the public service rules of Nigeria committed by management of the NSITF. This violation pertains to the unjust demotion of staff with three years of service, a sharp contrast to public service rules as well as the failure to remit deducted pension and National Housing Fund contributions of employees.”

The union alleged that over 5000 staff of the fund were demoted to their previous grade levels, saying the exercise was expected to adjust the structure of the Fund but the management rather recruited staff mostly at management levels in a process.

It said that the demotion of staff of over three years without legitimate grounds is a clear breach of these rules and undermines the principles of fairness, equality and meritocracy that are essential to the public service.

“Furthermore, we wish to draw your attention that our management has failed to remit the pension contributions deducted from our salaries for over two years.

“This act, not only violates the provisions of the Pension Reform Act but it jeopardizes the financial security and future wellbeing of employees. Another issue raised by the staff is the partial implementation of the salary review.

ASSBIFE said: “We believe that such actions are detrimental to the morale, motivation and overall performance of employees and they reflect a disregard for the welfare and rights of public servants. “We therefore request that you direct relevant authorities to investigate these issues and take appropriate action to salvage the situation.”