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  • Confusion in Buhari’s cabinet as Ngige suspends NSITF MD against SGF’s directive

    Confusion in Buhari’s cabinet as Ngige suspends NSITF MD against SGF’s directive

    The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) says its management remains operational, despite being suspended by Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment.

    In a letter dated July 1, 2020 and addressed to Adebayo Somefun (pictured), managing director of NSITF, Ngige said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the suspension of the management Somefun heads over “misappropriation and other gross misconduct”.

    Somefun was instructed to hand over to the most senior official in the board, and face a panel that would investigate procurement dealings of the agency from 2017 to 2020.

    But reacting in a statement on Thursday, NSITF said the president has not given such a directive.

    “We wish to state that President Muhammadu Buhari has not suspended the management of NSITF and has not made any such announcement, anywhere,” the statement read.

    “For clarity, we received a letter from the Hon Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige, stating that he is carrying out a procurement audit of NSITF, and that Management is suspended.

    “We had noted that the Minister’s action is against President Buhari’s directive, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federations that no minister should suspend, or purport to sack any head of agency appointed by the president.

    “The memo stressed that ministers should follow laid down procedures, by going through the governing board of the agencies, to make recommendations to the SGF, ahead of any action, if necessary.

    “We respect the president’s commitment to due process, and are assured we shall be protected by it. Meanwhile, the NSITF management remains open to any form of investigation by the appropriate agencies, as it has nothing to hide.”

    NSITF said it had received many letters and petitions from the minister and that it would make communication available to the public and relevant authorities, if necessary.

    It added that the “management of NSITF is still discharging its duties, as appointed by Mr President, and we ask all stakeholders to remain calm and focus, as all is well.”

    In a similar manner, Sale Mamman, minister of power, in 2019 had asked Marilyn Amobi, managing director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company Limited (NBET), to step down, but the president later overruled the minister.

     

  • PDP grants Ondo Deputy Gov waiver to contest guber poll

    PDP grants Ondo Deputy Gov waiver to contest guber poll

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party,( PDP) has approved the application of the Ondo State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Alfred Agboola Ajayi requesting for the party’s waiver to enable him participate in the primary election of the party slated for 22nd July, 2020.

    The approval is contained in a letter dated 26th June, 2020, and received by the Deputy Governor on 2nd July,2020. The letter was signed by both the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and the National Secretary, Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri.

    The National Working Committee found that the Deputy Governor has satisfied the relevant provisions of the party’s Constitution particularly section 50(5)(b) (as amended in 2017) for granting of waiver.
    The Deputy Governor is elated about this and urge his teeming supporters particularly, members of the party, to buckle down in a view to ensuring success at the primary first and eventually at the general election slated for October 10th, 2020.