From Ahmad Nakano
A petition against the Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr. Kelly Nwagha, has been tabled before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
The Acting MD is being accused of nepotism and other dubious practices regarding the reinstatement of the sacked staff of the Fund.
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A group, The Social Justice Initiative (T.S.J.I), which tabled the petition before the commission dated 8th October 2020, said the need for “an external investigation into this matter,” informed their decision to approach the anti-corruption agency.
Signed by the Executive Secretary, Azikiwe Chianu, it accused Nwagha of “using his office and position for gratification.”
The petition, which has the acknowledgment stamp of ICPC, said the issue has since been on the public domain, including the National Assembly Committee on Public Petition, which is awash with requests for reinstatement from many members of staff dismissed by the past administration.
It added that “Dr. Kelly Nwagha was appointed in June 2020 as Acting Managing Director of the NSITF. Prior to his appointment, many staff of the NSITF had their appointments terminated for various offenses.
“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 the 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 petition stated that the appointment of Nwagha, however, saw some of the dismissed staff found their way back into the Fund.
“We are aware through 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.
T.S.J.I, whose motto is: Good Governance Through Transparency & Accountability, said the reinstatement was conducted via personal ties.
It said some of the dismissed staff, “who have close and personal ties with Dr. Kelly Nwagha are being reinstated at an alarming speed.”
Nwagha, the group said, has been “actively cherry-picking” those staff and reinstating them back “without recourse to due process.”
It, therefore, urged the commission to investigate with a view to ensuring that the Acting MD.discharges his duties in an open and transparent manner, devoid of sentiments and personal interests
