The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has embarked on a voluntary strategy for senior officers to rejig its operations.

The Head of Corporate Affairs at the NSITF, Alexandra Mede, explained that the structured voluntary retirement exercise (VRE) was open to confirmed staff in designated senior cadres, from senior manager, principal manager, assistant general manager and deputy general manager to general manager.

“The VRE was a deliberate institutional reform initiative, informed by recommendations from a credible, independent staff audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). It offered participating staff a voluntary exit with full financial benefits attached.

“The exercise was subsequently extended following approval by the Management Board at its 83rd meeting on April 28, 2026. Every exit recorded was voluntary, incentivised, and processed in strict accordance with the terms of the exercise, extant Public Service Rules and applicable labour laws,” she stated.

Mede noted that the NSITF maintains established channels for staff grievances through its Human Resource Management Department, and no credible complaints of victimisation or administrative high-handedness have been substantiated during the exercise.

She added: “The NSITF operates under statutory oversight frameworks and remains fully accountable to the relevant supervisory authorities. Management welcomes any lawful, evidence-based inquiry and has nothing to conceal.”

The Fund said it remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the welfare of Nigerian workers, which formed the values it was established to uphold.

“Management will continue to engage stakeholders openly and responsibly, and calls on all parties to prioritise factual accuracy in public discourse concerning a federal institution of this importance,” Mede said.

Meanwhile, a former General Manager, Legal Services, NSITF, Innocent Eremionkhale, has denied forced retirement claim, saying, “I wish to respectfully clarify that I was not among any staff members who resigned from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) as a result of any disagreement, dispute, conflict, or misunderstanding with the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer or the Management of the Fund.

“For the avoidance of doubt, throughout my tenure as General Manager, Legal Services, I maintained a cordial and professional working relationship with the Managing Director and Management. At no time did I have any disagreement or dispute with the Managing Director that could have influenced my decision to leave the service of the Fund.

My exit from the NSITF was entirely voluntary and was motivated by my personal career aspirations and desire to return to private legal practice after years of public service.

My decision was taken independently and should not be associated with any allegation of managerial crisis, workplace dispute, or dissatisfaction with the leadership of the Fund.”