Commotion in Labour Ministry as workers vow to disrupt inauguration of NSITF board
…Accuses Ngige of shortchanging Kokori
…Warns Minister against secret inauguration
Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja
Drama erupted yesterday at the Honourable Minister’s of Labour Conference Room, the venue for the inauguration of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) board as the Nigerian workers stormed in protest against the replacement of a renowned labour leader, Comrade Ovie Kokori as Chairman of the Board.
The inauguration which was billed to take place yesterday (Thursday) at 10:30am was up till 1:30 yet to commence as the Nigerian workers under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) has vowed to disrupt the event except Comrade Kokori is been restored as the Chairman of the Board.
In a statement issued by the ministry yesterday, Kokori, a renowned labour leader was replaced by Mr Austin Enajemo-Isire, a Chartered Accountant as the Chairman of the board which two years over due for inauguration.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba while addressing pressmen accused the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige of replacing the Labour leader for some personal gains.
He noted that it was in clear violation of all known laws as the even the Act that created the NSITF recommended the consultation of NLC before the constitution of the Board.
Wabba insisted that NLC was not carried along and as such, the inauguration can not stand.
Some labour leaders also alleged that the minister was planning a secret inauguration in a hotel somewhere around the Central Business District, Abuja as against the Honourable Minister’s Conference Room in the Federal Secretariat which was the initial venue of the inauguration.
“Why is he (Ngige) scared of coming out to address his constituency? Let him come out if he did the right thing.
“If he likes himself, he should forget about going to a secret venue for the inauguration because we are going to tail him. We will go as far as going to protest in his house if he tries it.”
Sen. Ngige was nowhere sighted within the premises of the Labour Ministry as at the time of filing the report.
