Labour minister Simon Lalong says he has set up a committee to probe alleged complaints by staff against the management of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

Mr Lalong disclosed this during a familiarisation visit to NSITF on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the deputy minister, and other top directors in the ministry accompanied Mr Lalong.

Mr Lalong said the visit was to examine complaints filed by staff against the management and address them holistically.

The minister stated, “We saw complaints of refunds of money paid and refunded; we had complaints of unfair administrative practices and also irregular promotions. We had complaints of lack of vacancies and stagnation of staff, court cases regarding the disengagement of certain staff and disharmony between the in-house union and the fund.

“Staff grievances of irregularities of grade levels, mass employment of persons to fill up vacancies in the fund and staff condition of service.”

Mr Lalong also noted that the ministry received complaints of disharmony among management staff and insubordination of NSITF staff, among others.

Mr Lalong added that, as a way forward, he had set up a committee to be inaugurated on Wednesday. According to him, the committee will investigate the issues to resolve them as soon as possible.

Maureen Allagoa, NSITF managing director, said, “A prominent challenge that has occurred in 2022 with a threat to reoccur in 2023 is the implementation of the deduction of 40 per cent of the employers’ contribution to the Fund by the Ministry of Finance.

“N1.4 billion was deducted and paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in line with the Finance Act 2020. There is also the challenge of the limitations of the Employees Compensation Act (EAC) 2010 in that it does not cover some situations, especially in the areas of claims and compensation and the informal sector.”

She added, “These existing gaps in the law have variously been exploited by dubious employers to the detriment of employees.”

Ms Allagoa added that there was a need for an amendment to the act to close up these gaps, among other challenges, noting that NSITF had developed a strategic plan with 50 strategic objectives to drive the agency forward.

(NAN)