The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Federal Government of illegally siphoning 40 percent of workers’ contributions to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) into the national treasury as “revenue,” in what it described as a blatant breach of the laws setting up the agency.
In a strongly worded communiqué issued after its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting, the NLC demanded that the NSITF “account for and return all diverted funds within seven (7) working days from today,” warning that if nothing is done within the deadline, it would “no longer guarantee industrial peace in the sector.”
As of the time of filing this report, the government had not issued any formal response to the allegations.
The union described the alleged diversion as an “ongoing assault on workers’ social protection rights” and vowed to use every lawful means to protect the interests of Nigerian workers.
The communiqué, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, also accused the current administration of making a “false claim of ownership of the NLC National Headquarters, a property owned by Nigerian workers,” and of engaging in “cyber and media-bullying of the trade unions and leadership” while allegedly plotting to amend the NSITF Act to give government full control of the fund.
The CWC further demanded that the Federal Government immediately constitute the governing board of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) within seven days, in full compliance with the law
