ASSBIFI wants govt to halt planned recruitment of new staff by NSITF

The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has called on the Federal Government to halt fresh moves by the new management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to recruit new workers.

The association said recruiting new staff by the management would not improve the efficiency of the Fund but a move to satisfy personal interests of individuals.

The association, in a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, stated that the plans by NSITF to employ another round of 370 officers from the rank of managers and above into the service of the organisation was uncalled for and an invitation for industrial unrest in the organization.

The letter, which was signed by its President, Olayinka Olasanoye and Acting Deputy Secretary-General, Yekeen Shittu, and obtained by The Guardian expressed worries that the Fund which already has over 5,000 employees within its workforce, with an additional 370 staff and its consequent increase in remuneration would be a drawback.

ASSBIFI argued that NSITF is presently grappling with many unresolved staff welfare issues with improper staff placements arising from previous lopsided recruitments.

According to ASSBIFI, newly employed graduates were placed on the rank of assistant manager instead of entry officer level, making it difficult and causing avoidable delays in the promotion of experienced hands.
Also, it listed some outstanding allowances and statutory deductions that have not been paid and remitted, including salary scale overlapping.

With some of the unresolved issues, the association called for caution as NSITF is presently funded mainly from the contributions by the private sector through its Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS).

“It is therefore morally wrong for government which is yet to contribute anything from the public servants to now over burden the institution by not insisting on employment where there are no vacancies, but that they must be at the management level.

“As a responsible union representing Nigerian workers, we are not opposing generation of employment for Nigerians, our concern is the present situation of NSITF which calls for caution.

“This nation cannot afford to let NSITF fail just a few months after the demise of a sister institution, National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) for similar reasons,” the union said.