The Ministry of Labour and Employment has frowned at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) distruption of the inauguration of the new board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Mrs Rhoda Iliya, Assistant Director, Press, in the Ministry, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
The inauguration of the new NSITF board was scheduled for Thursday but the event failed to take place because the leadership of the organised labour was opposed to the appointment of Mr Austin Enajemo-Isire as NSITF chairman,
According to her, the inauguration was postponed because of security breach occasioned by the siege at the venue of the inauguration by suspected thugs.
“The postponement was to avoid the degeneration of the situation, where thugs were already manhandling some officers of the ministry and policemen attached to the office of the ministry,” she said.
She added that the replacement of Mr Frank Kokori and his transfer to the Board of Micheal Imodu National Institute of Labour Studies (MINLS) Ilorin, a diploma awarding institution in Labour Relations as Chairman, followed due process and has the President’s approval.
Iliya explained that the President gave approval for this exercise which was duly communicated to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, saying this is also in line with the Act establishing the NSITF.
“The violent gatecrashing and the illegal forceful seizure of the conference room of the Minister this morning by thugs was therefore, uncalled for.
“Government, therefore, takes serious exception to the dishonourable actions of the NLC leadership and Mr Frank Kokori as well as his cohorts.
“The Ministry will not tolerate a repeat of hooliganism clearly unknown to ethos of civilised unionism,” she added.
She, however, said that Kokori is expected to report at his posting at the MINILS where his experience is more relevant.
She also said that President Muhammad Buhari had also appointed Enejamo-Isere as the Chairman of the NSITF to bring his wealth of experience as a senior member of Chartered Institute of Insurance as well as Chartered Institute of Taxation to bear on his new position.
“Government will not tolerate a situation where labour leaders challenge or vitiate the constitutional powers of the President over appointments,” she said.
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