NASS: Chris Ngige under fire

– The Senate and House of Representatives have accused the minister of labour and productivity, Chris Ngige of impunity and gross abuse of office

– The committees have summoned Ngige to appear next Tuesday at the National Assembly over alleged skewed employment at NSITF

– Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, described the skewed employment at NSITF as a violation of the principle of federal character The Senate and House of Representatives have accused the minister of labour and productivity, Senator Chris Ngige of violating the federal character principle in the employment of persons at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, (NSITF).

According to Vanguard, the Senate and House of Representatives joint committee on employment, Labour and productivity on Tuesday, October 4, accused the minister of impunity and gross abuse of office over the alleged skewed employment at NSITF.

The committees summoned Ngige to appear next Tuesday at the National Assembly with the chairman of the federal character commission, Shettima Bukar-Abba and managing director of NSITF, Umar Munir Abubakar over the issue.

The lawmakers said the summon became imperative because in the said employment exercise, the minister made it possible for Anambra State, his home state, to get 44 out of the 131 available, with some states such as Katsina and Kwara getting 1 and none respectively.

Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, who is the chairman of the joint committee faulted the skewed employment allegedly overseen by Ngige.

Nazif said such conduct was in violation of the Federal Character principle.

He said: “Employment is of paramount importance and the committee should ensure that employment is done in a manner to reflect the principles of federal character.

‘’I think there is something going on in NSITF that no one is willing to talk about. It is clear that the Minister, Chris Ngige, is responsible for this irregularity, impunity and anomaly, resulting in gross abuse of his office, and we will take action on it.”

Nazif urged the senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, to brief President Muhammadu Buhari on the development.

In his response, Senator Ita Enang assured the committee that the presidency was prepared to address the issue of lopsidedness in employment in government parastatals and agencies, adding that the federal character principle would be strictly complied with.

Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday, October 4, has set up an eight-member committee to investigate funds that has been released to the presidential initiative on the North East and ascertain how much has been spent from inception till date.

In a two-prayer motion sponsored by Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, the adhoc committee is also expected to investigate the diversion of grains and other food items meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Presenting his motion in plenary, Senator Garbai who represents Borno Central noted that despite huge releases by federal government and donor agencies, the situation in IDP camps is far from cheering
naij.com