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Tag: Ngige

  • NSITF mismanaged N48bn, awarded N4.448bn contract in one day –Ngige

    NSITF mismanaged N48bn, awarded N4.448bn contract in one day –Ngige

    Minister for Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has claimed the suspended management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) awarded 332 contracts worth about N4.448 billion in one day, two days after his exit as a minister in 2019.

    Ngige, who stated this, yesterday, when he appeared before the House of Representatives adhoc Committee, also accused the management of allegedly mismanaging N48 billion without paying workers salary.

    He explained that the NSITF management was suspended for committing about 74 different infractions.

    According to him, some of the infractions included alleged extra-budgetary spending, making payment for unapproved expenditure, overspending on administrative issues, irregular direct payment from the Employees Compensation Act, irregularities in staff group assurance policy and making payment for Assurance policy without a policy cover.

    Ngige also accused the suspended management of allegedly engaging solicitors without the approval of the Attorney General of the Federation and making payment to the tune of N33 million to the solicitors also without the approval of the AGF.

    The minister, while insisting that he did not breach any presidential directive in respect of the NSITF, assured the lawmakers that members of the suspended management will be given fair hearing.

    “In 2018, I put up an implementation committee from the ministry to implement both the Auditor Generals special periodic check and the report of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry headed by the then Permanent Secretary – Mrs. Ibukun Odusote. By the time she was redeployed from the Ministry of Labour and Employment in November 2018 to Ministry of Environment, my instructions on the implementation for the two reports on NSITF, to the best of my knowledge, did not receive attention from the NSITF management. All attempts and directives to NSITF even at the ministry top management with parastatals to get the NSITF respond was futile till we went for the general election and I exited as minister May 29, 2019. Of course, they celebrated the exit but all these were captured in my handover notes to the prospective new minister of labour and employment.

    “To make matters worse, when I came back in August 2019, reappointed as minister of labour and employment, right from the 2020 budget defence and their 2019 budget performance, I realised that instead of making amends from the earlier Auditor General’s report, matters have worsened. I, therefore, sought the help of the Auditor General of the Federation and the DG Public Procurement as there was a bazaar of NSITF contract documents being hawked at Wuse and Maitama Abuja for “prospective contractors” on payment of 25 per cent of contract paper value.”

  • Ngige bars NECA’s acting President from NSITF board meetings, voids previous contributions

    Ngige bars NECA’s acting President from NSITF board meetings, voids previous contributions

    Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige has barred the acting President of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, from further participating in board meetings of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

    The minister also voided Adeniyi’s contributions in past board meetings of NSITF on the grounds that he lacked the legitimacy to do so.

    Ngige’s position was conveyed in a letter addressed to NECA’s Director General, Timothy Olawale, and dated July 9, 2020.

    But NECA’s director general said he had not received an official communication from the minister on the suspension of one of its representatives on NSITF board.

    He said: “We cannot comment until we have been formally informed officially. What you are telling me now is news. I will respond when I receive the official communication.”

    In a statement by his media aide, Emmanuel Nzomiwu, the minister noted that by virtue of the NSITF Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, NECA is accorded two slots for institutional representation on the board of the agency.

    He recalled that when the board was inaugurated in May 2019, NECA had two members, namely: Olawale Timothy and Dr Mohammed I. Yinusa (NECA then President), who is now late.

    The minister said his attention was drawn to the development through the recent transcript and extant proceedings submitted to his office by the ministry’s representative on the agency’s board on the replacement of the late President by Adeniyi, who is NECA’s acting President.

    The statement said: “In that regard, you will recall that membership on the board of NSITF has preconditions of security screening and documentation by the Department of State Security (DSS) and subsequent approval by Mr President, which other members had undergone before the inauguration of the board on May 18, 2019.

    “This exercise became imperative after the orgy of looting by some members of the last board in collusion with some top management officials of NSITF. So, even though you communicated to the ministry the demise of the former President, the issue of his replacement on the NSITF board has to follow due process.

    “As the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, I did not convey a Presidential approval for the replacement of the late Dr. Mohammed I. Yinusa on the Board and I understand that the NECA Acting President has been attending NSITF Board meetings and even heading a Board Committee without the legitimacy of having been cleared by the DSS and approval of Mr President in order to become a legitimate NSITF board member…”

  • NSITF: Ngige reacts to reps accusation of inserting N2bn in budget, others

    NSITF: Ngige reacts to reps accusation of inserting N2bn in budget, others

    Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige has threatened to sue the Chairman of the House of Representatives on Finance James Falake, for alleging that he inserted N2 billion projects in the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) 2020 budget .

    He accused Falake of either being “mischievous or ignorant of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Act or both.”

    Ngige also accused the lawmaker of abusing “parliamentary privilege,” being ignorant of the fact that ministers cannot pad budgets because the final products come from the National Assembly.

    He said he was already writing Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila on his readiness to ”go to court to challenge Faleke for a abusing his parliamentary privilege.”

    The minister added: ”It is instructive here to note that ministers do not award contracts. They neither sit in the Ministerial Tenders Board nor Tenders Board of parastatals.

    “Even, the Ministry of Labour’s representatives on the NSITF main board are not part of the tenders board of that parastatal. So, how, when and where did the minister sit in that board to choose, much less pad the budget?

    “It is therefore easy to attribute Faleke’s motion on the floor of the House on Tuesday to a consummate parliamentary mischief or outright ignorance of the BPP Act or both.

    “If Faleke is desperately clutching a straw on behalf of his constituents, he must definitely grow bigger than his infantile approach.

    ”Faleke also brought my wife into everything. My wife is a civil servant. She is a permanent secretary in Service Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. I didn’t see any circular that they sent from that office so I don’t know what they mean.

    “They should not drag my family into a matter they are doing politically. It is unfair to my family. They should insulate my family from that, especially my wife, who is discharging her functions innocently as a civil servant, carrying out instructions of Head of Service of the Federation.”

  • 774,000 Jobs: Ngige apologises to lawmakers over Keyamo clash

    774,000 Jobs: Ngige apologises to lawmakers over Keyamo clash

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has apologised to the National Assembly joint committee on labour following a clash between lawmakers and Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

    The two sides were involved in a war of words last week over the planned employment of 774,000 Nigerians by the government.

    This happened at a meeting aimed at discussing the progress of the planned employment.

    Speaking at a meeting with Mr Lawan at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Ngige said he regretted what happened last week.

    “We regret what has happened…we apologise on behalf of the ministry.

    “…I hope that you can forgive and forget and move forward…,” he said.

    Mr Ngige also noted that Mr Keyamo has prepared a position paper on how the programme would be implemented but “nothing is sacrosanct there, we can still discuss.”

    The National Assembly had in the 2020 budget appropriated N52 billion for the Special Public Works Programme aimed at employing 774,000 citizens, a thousand from each of the 774 local government areas in the country.

    My Keyamo accused the lawmakers of wanting to sabotage the recruitment process despite receiving 15 per cent jobs slots.

    The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), according to the lawmakers, is meant to implement the recruitment under a special works programme.

    They had accused Mr Keyamo of hijacking the programme from the NDE. The minister hit back, saying they were the ones trying to take over the project.

    The committee has since demanded that the programme be suspended until the modalities for the exercise have been explained to the lawmakers.

    It also mandated its Committees on Labour and Employment to invite Mr Ngige and other relevant officials of the ministry to brief the joint committee on the modalities for the implementation of the programme.

  • NSITF: Reps tear Ngige apart, say his suspension of Executive c’ttee is illegal

    NSITF: Reps tear Ngige apart, say his suspension of Executive c’ttee is illegal

    ..alleged that his underhand dealings are numerous
    …how he bought SUVS for N305m
    …inserted N2bn in 2020 budget
    …his wife as staff of SGF appointed insurance broker who collects N100m annually
    …set up adhoc investigative panel to dig deeper
    BY EMMAN OVUAKOORIE
    The House of Representatives on Tuesday took a swipe at the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige for suspending the entire management of NSITF over pumped up allegations.
    The lawmakers apparently peeved by the minister’s action which according to them was a clear violation of Presidential Order said it was unconstitutional.
    The lawmakers bared their minds as they debate a motion under matters of public importance promoted by Hon Leke Abejide.
    The motion was entitled:URGENT MOTION ON THE INCESSANT AND ARBITRAL BREACH OF PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVES ON THE SUSPENSION OF TOP MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF NIGERIA SOCIAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND (NSITF) AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES BY THE MINISTERS
    Apparently sensing that Members from the South East zone were not particularly happy that one of their own was being slaughtered, the Presiding Officer, Femi Gbajabiamila quickly intervened saying the motion will be further debated as soon as possible.
    But in a twist, the House resolved to set up an adhoc investigative panel to probe deeper into the matter immediately.
    The panel is to be headed by Hon Mariam Onuoha, APC, Imo state from the same geo-political zone of Ngige.
    The lawmakers who led the onslaught against the minister were James Abiodun Faleke, APC, Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos and Soli Sada, APC, Katsina.
    In his contribution, Rep Faleke said”minister of Labour and Employment. has abused his office he bought vechicles worth 305 million inserted 2 billion naira into 2020 budget and 4 SUVS.
    ” Ngige’s wife as a staff of SGF signed and approved the appointment of an insurance broker for the ministry of Labour, at 100million per year.
    Hee said t”he draconian action by the minister was unconstitutional as he lacks the powers to suspend the NSITF management that only the president. Faleke also raised some allegations against Ngige insisting that his actions was taking to hide some underground dealings.
    Read the full motion below:
    URGENT MOTION ON THE INCESSANT AND ARBITRAL BREACH OF PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVES ON THE SUSPENSION OF TOP MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF NIGERIA SOCIAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND (NSITF) AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES BY THE MINISTERS
    THE HOUSE
    Notes that the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment by a letter dated 1 July 2020 signed by him, purportedly conveyed the directive of Mr. President to suspend from office, the entire Management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) for “prima facie infractions on the financial regulation and Procurement Ac ”
    Aware that the said members of the Management committee of the NSlTF were variously and collectively appointed into the position at the Pleasure of Mr. President who has approved a laid down procedure for removal of executives of Government Parastatals.
    Aware that a Presidential directive Circular (Ref No: SGF/OP/l.S.3/T/163) of 19th May 2020 issued by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, states that the Procedure contained in the circular is a mandatory guide and all Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and any other public officer in similar supervisory position are enjoined to strictly abide by its content.
    The circular further stated amongst others that ”for emphasis, on no account shall
    a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Unilaterally or arbitrarily remove a
    serving Chief Executive Officer without recourse to the procedure contained in
    the circular”
    Some other relevant portions of the said circular include:
    a. Requiring ”the supervising Minister through the Permanent Secretary to refer the matter to the Governing Board for necessary action…
    b. in the absence of the Board, the Minister shall, with the support of the , Permanent Secretary function in that capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Administrative Guidelines
    c. and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation shall implement and/ or convey the approval and directives of Mr. President on every disciplinary case against the Chief Executive officers in the Public Service.
    Further aware that 8 Governing Board was constituted for the Fund by Mr. President to oversee the affairs of the Fund and to take appropriate disciplinary
    actions amongst others, where necessary.
    Amazed that though the Minister wrote the Chairman of the Board, at no point did the Board meet to decide, resolved nor took a decision to dissolve the Executive and Management Committee.
    Surprised that a Ministry saddled with the responsibility of mediating in labour matters and solving labour issues on behalf of Government and People of Nigeria can flagrantly disobey laid down procedures of government in its unilateral dissolution of the Executive and Management Committee of an employee compensatory Fund, thereby jeopardizing the purpose and essence of the establishment of the Fund particularly in this Covid era.
    Confirmed that no Minister is procedurally empowered to remove the Executive of any Agency under any guise including suspension but the Hon. Minister Senator Dr. Chriinwabuezeoldgqge inyt‘higfvaaedgggigtgted‘ mr‘nseIf. int‘o“S the sole caquthorityééeg‘xfmx
    thereby bypassing all the stated procedures as approved by Mr. MPresident to convey the suspension of these officers.
    Worried that the incessant flagrant disobedience of presidential directives as witnessed recently with the actions of the Honourable Ministers of Labour & Employment and his counterpart in Power leaves room for potential breaches of laid down rules and against laid down procedure, thereby making the government
    look unserious before the general public.
    Observed and in confirmation of the unilateral decision of the Hon. Minister, that the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), an institutional stakeholder in the NSITF representing 90% of the contributors to the Fund and a member of the Board of the Fund by its letter of 3rd Ju|y to the Minister and the advertorial in the Dailies of 6th July 2020
  • NSITF management rejects suspension, says letter written by Ngige not Buhari

    NSITF management rejects suspension, says letter written by Ngige not Buhari

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

    Earlier, news circulated that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the suspension of Mr Adebayo Somefun, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), alongside NSITF’s Executive Director, Finance and Investment, Mr Jasper Ikedi Azuatalam, Executive Director, Operations, Mrs Olukemi Nelson and Executive Director, Administration, Alhaji Tijani Darazo Sulaiman.

    In a letter dated addressed to Somefun, Ngige said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the suspension of the management heads over “misappropriation and other gross misconduct”.

    Somefun was then 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.

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

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

    “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.”

  • 2023: Ngige hints on contesting for president

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has said he reserves the right to contest for Senate or presidency in 2023.

    Ngige made the remark while dismissing reports that he was interested in contesting for the Anambra governorship election billed for next year.

    He spoke in his hometown of Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday.

    Ngige, who was a former one term governor of the state, however, declared that he has no interest in becoming governor because he’s on a national assignment as Minister.

    Ngige said: “Yes, there have been speculations that I am eyeing the governorship of Anambra State. They have written about it in a lot of media. I am a politician. They have the right to speculate on my next move. My next move is very vast.

    “Elections will come in 2023, I have a right to vie for any position. I can vie for Senate.

    “I can vie for president if I so wish. Election will be coming in Anambra State, latest November 2021 to elect a successor to Obiano. I am not disqualified. I have a right to say I can run.

    “I don’t have interest for now in Anambra governorship because I am on a national assignment.”

  • Ngige to Nigerian workers: Your jobs are safe despite COVID-19 pandemic

    The Federal Government says it will work to ensure that there are no job losses arising from the extreme effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the economy.

    The Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, said this on Thursday in his May Day message released by his media aide, Mr Emmanuel Nzomiwu.

    Ngige said that the Federal Government would look at the four-pillar plan of policy responses to the pandemic laid out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

    He said that such policies were intended to be human-centred and built on global solidarity.

    He said that all relevant factors to the nation’s workforce would be identified, analysed and solidified to ensure job retention and continued realisation of decent work agenda.

    The minister said that the Federal Government would be guided by labour standards as benchmarks for social and employment protection at this time of vulnerabilities.

    He stated that the government would not encourage employers to disengage any member of their staff without the prerequisite social dialogue and clearance from the ministry.

    Ngige commended workers in the health sector for being in the frontline of ensuring that the raging pandemic was contained.

    “Over the years, May 1 has been a unique day in the world of work. It is a day dedicated to workers as partners in the socio-economic development of nations,” he said.

    The minister, however, said that the 2020 May Day celebration was different “because we are all taking refuge in our respective homes, staying off the streets in a bid to stay alive and beat an invisible enemy.

    “The COVID-19 outbreak has affected modes of work and the utilisation of teleworking is on the increase.

    “As you work from home, I urge you to do your best in that regard and to endeavour to demarcate your personal life from work,” he said.

    Ngige said that the Federal Government was not unmindful of the fact that businesses in both the private and public sectors had suffered.

    “Sustainability of the enterprise has become a subject of concern. The worries precipitated by the COVID-19 crisis are further compounded by worries of maintaining a source of livelihood.

    “In this regard, the government and social partners will have a look at the four-pillar plan of policy responses to COVID-19 crisis laid out by ILO.

    “These are intended to be human-centred and built on global solidarity and it will be in addition to the Federal Government evolving plan of action to sustain the economy in the context of current global crisis,” he said.

    He urged workers to imbibe the ILO laid out workers’ response options to COVID-19 which include efficient social dialogue at all levels.

    Others are mobilisation and allocation of human and financial resources without exacerbating the national debt crisis and promotion of solidarity and non-discrimination/stigmatisation of workers and sick persons among others.

  • Ngige intervenes, stops picketing of General Electric

    Ngige intervenes, stops picketing of General Electric

    Members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), on Tuesday suspended its one-day picketing of the headquarters of General Electric (GE), following the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that NUPENG in solidarity with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), on Monday took to the streets of Lagos in protest against General Electric.

    The protesters, who had blocked the entrance into the company, did not allow other employees and management of the company into the compound.

    They were dressed in red, chanted songs, and carried placards with various inscriptions such as “GE must pay ARCO to pay our members”.

    Mr Badmus Aiyedun, the Administration Head, Lagos Zonal Council, NUPENG, told NAN on Tuesday that the union suspended the strike due following the intervention of Ngige.

    Aiyedun hinted that the leadership of NUPENG, GE management and officials of the Labour ministry, would be meeting next Monday to resolve the lingering issues.

    He, however, added that if after the meeting the matter was not resolved, the union might resume its action.

    “But from today, no union member will be coming to picket the company again, ” Aiyedun said.

  • Most Nigerian youths unemployable – Ngige

    Minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige has reacted to the high level of unemployable youths in the country.

    The Minister who spoke at the 2019 National Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday, disclosed that the ministry in collaboration with the Federal Government have established linkages with the Ministry of Education, Industry, Trade and Investment, Youth and Sports, and Agriculture to address the issue.

    He said; “Nigeria is over 200 million and about 60 percent are youths who need employment. Unfortunately, only 10 percent have decent jobs. Many are unemployable while others are not employed.

    “We are working that they get a job so that they can have a roof over their heads, feed and enjoy life. We have established linkages with the Ministry of Education, Industry, Trade and Investment, Youth and Sports, and Agriculture.

    “We want to look at our curriculum so that our people can have skills that can be exported.”