FG orders screening of all NSITF staff over NYSC, academic certificates forgery

The federal government has ordered the screening of the academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates of staff of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

Labour minister Chris Ngige gave the order during the inauguration of the newly reconstituted board of the Fund on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Ngige said the screening of the academic qualifications of NSITF staff was imperative to avoid the falsification of certificates.

President Muhammadu Buhari recently sacked NSITF managing director Michael Akabogu for forging an NYSC certificate.

The minister noted that the NSITF had consistently been in the news for the wrong reasons.

“To maintain, protect and promote a viable and thriving organisation, I have four major tasks before the new board. Within the next eight weeks, you have to screen NYSC and certificates of all staff of the Fund. I have cause to say so,” he stated.

The labour minister added, “When I see letters written by staff, including people in management positions, I start wondering if they obtained a General Certificate of Education (GCE). You should screen out impostors with fake educational and NYSC certificates.”

Mr Ngige also charged the new board to ensure the full implementation of the NSITF Restructuring Report and conclusion of Electronic NSITF (E-NSITF) Phases I and II.

He said this would enable the maximum collection of employee contributions from public and private sectors and move into the informal sector of the economy.

The minister also charged the board to intensify its operational drive in the public sector, which is within the dimension of the formal economy.

He added that this would ensure that national and sub-national governments move towards universal coverage for all the workers in Nigeria.

The minister mandated the new board to do their best to build a new NSITF, noted for accountability, transparency and other principles characteristic of good governance.

Mr Ngige expressed optimism that with the new board, the era of the media feasting on NSITF activities was over.

(NAN)