The Thursday inauguration of the new board of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, was postponed indefinitely as former labour leader, Frank Kokori, and organised labour accused Ngige of oppressing him after his name was omitted from the list.
When Vice President Yemi Osinbajo named the board in October 2017 when he was acting president, Kokori was named as chairman.
However, on Wednesday when the ministry announced the names of the board members and notice of inauguration, Kokori’s name was missing.
He was, however, named as Chairman of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin, Kwara State.
While the members and journalists were awaiting the commencement of the inauguration at the ministry’s conference room, the Director of Human Resources in the ministry, Ajibola Ibrahim, announced the indefinite postponement because some members were not present.
He also said the minister was not present.
But the action was protested by members of the NLC and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, who alleged that Ngige substituted Kokori’s name on the list and was planning to inaugurate the board secretly.
President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said the reason given by the ministry was not tenable.
THE PUNCH
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