Group petitions Reps, ICPC, others over alleged nepotism in NSITF

A group, The Social Justice Initiative (TSJI) has petitioned the House of Representatives over alleged nepotism in the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The petition was also sent to Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The petition signed by its Executive Secretary, Azikiwe Chianu, accused the Acting Managing Director of NSITF, Kelly Nwagha, of reinstating some dismissed staff without following due process.
The petition dated 8th October, 2020, called for an external investigation into the matter.
The group stated that they approached the National Assembly and the anti-corruption agency to investigate the allegations against Nwagha of abusing his office and privileged position.
It said that the issue has been in the public domain, adding that they petitioned the National Assembly Committee on Public Petition, which has a lot of requests for reinstatement from many of the staff dismissed by the past administration.
“Dr. Kelly Nwagha was appointed in June 2020 as Acting Managing Director of the NSITF. Prior to his appointment, several staff of the NSITF had their appointments terminated for various offences.
“A notable case amongst these was that of about eight (8) members of staff of the NSITF (Mararaba branch) whose appointment was duly terminated under the previous management after internal investigations found them complicit in forgery of official documents to obtain personal loans from a Microfinance bank.
“These members of staff had their appointments terminated after they were found guilty by a duly constituted disciplinary committee of having breached some of the conditions of service of the NSITF,” the group stated.
According to the petition, after the appointment of Nwagha, some of the dismissed staff were secretly brought back into the agency.
“We are aware through a reliable information that some of the eight members of staff dismissed by the previous management have been reinstated into the service of the Fund through the backdoor,” it said.
The group further disclosed that the said staff were allegedly reinstated because of their personal ties with the Acting Managing Director.
The group therefore called for investigation to ensure that the Acting Managing Director discharges his duties in an open and transparent manner, devoid of sentiments and personal interests.