•Says voluntary exits misrepresented

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, has strongly refuted reports alleging a managerial crisis and mass resignation of workers within the organisation, insisting that recent staff departures were part of a carefully planned Voluntary Retirement Exercise, VRE, designed to reform and reposition the agency.
The Fund described the allegations, which have gained traction in some media reports and statements issued by a coalition of civil society organisations, as misleading, unsubstantiated and aimed at creating a false impression of institutional instability. It maintained that contrary to claims of staff intimidation and internal turmoil, the organisation remains stable and focused on delivering its mandate to Nigerian workers and employers.

In a statement by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Alexandra Mede, the NSITF said reports suggesting that hundreds of employees had resigned in protest against management practices were a distortion of the facts.

“The Management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) wishes to categorically reject the allegations recently circulated by a coalition of civil society organisations, which rely on an online publication dated June 4, 2026, as their primary basis,” the statement said.

“The NSITF considers both the publication and the demands arising from it to be without merit, and rooted in a deliberate misrepresentation of facts.”

The Fund noted that what critics had portrayed as a wave of resignations was actually a structured retirement programme that was publicly announced and implemented in accordance with established public service procedures.

“There has been no mass resignation at the NSITF, and there is no managerial crisis within the organisation. What occurred was a structured Voluntary Retirement Exercise (VRE), formally advertised on March 3, 2026, and open to confirmed staff in designated senior cadres — Senior Manager, Principal Manager, Assistant General Manager, Deputy General Manager and General Manager,” the statement explained.

According to the Fund, the exercise was conceived as part of a broader institutional reform strategy aimed at improving operational efficiency and aligning staffing structures with modern organisational needs. Management disclosed that the initiative was informed by recommendations contained in an independent staff audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the world’s leading professional services firms.

“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 voluntary exits with full financial benefits attached,” Mede stated.

The NSITF further revealed that the retirement programme received the approval of its Management Board and was subsequently extended at the board’s 83rd meeting held on April 28, 2026, to accommodate additional interested employees.

Management stressed that participation in the exercise was entirely voluntary and that no staff member was compelled to leave the organisation.

“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,” the statement noted.

The Fund argued that attempts to portray the exercise as evidence of a crisis amounted to misinformation and a misrepresentation of a legitimate management initiative.

“To characterise this structured, transparent exercise as ‘hundreds of staff resigning amid intimidation’ is factually incorrect and constitutes irresponsible journalism.”

The agency also pushed back against allegations that workers were being victimised or subjected to administrative intimidation. It said established mechanisms exist within the organisation for employees to report grievances and seek redress where necessary.

“Management finds it equally troubling that civil society organisations, whose mandate is the pursuit of truth and accountability, would lend their platforms to what amounts to an unsubstantiated smear campaign against a Federal Government institution,” the statement said.

“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.”

Beyond the issue of staff departures, the Fund also addressed allegations of financial misconduct, including claims relating to multiple bank accounts and an alleged N297 billion scandal. The organisation maintained that such allegations remain unproven and are currently subjects of investigation by relevant authorities.

According to management, it is inappropriate to demand the removal of senior officials based on accusations that have not been established through due process.

“The coalition itself acknowledges the financial allegations it cites — including claims regarding multiple bank accounts and a purported N297 billion scandal — remain unproven and subject to investigation. Management finds it deeply concerning that unverified claims are being weaponised to demand the removal of principal officers of a federal institution.”

The NSITF insisted that it remains accountable to statutory oversight institutions and welcomes any lawful inquiry conducted in line with established procedures.

“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,” it added.

The Fund also defended its leadership against calls by the coalition for the removal of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, as well as the Chairman of the Board.
Management argued that the organisation has witnessed significant improvements in recent years, particularly in service delivery, operational efficiency and the expansion of social insurance coverage to more Nigerian workers.

“Under the leadership of Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, the Fund has recorded measurable improvements across every sphere of service delivery, including expanded coverage and enhanced operational efficiency. These outcomes are wholly inconsistent with the portrait of institutional dysfunction being advanced by the coalition.”

While urging Nigerians to assess the allegations objectively, the NSITF called for greater responsibility in public discourse, especially when dealing with issues affecting public institutions.

The Fund also urged regulatory authorities to strengthen oversight of civil society organisations to ensure that public advocacy efforts are based on verified information and conducted in the broader public interest.

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and worker welfare, the NSITF said it would continue to engage stakeholders openly while remaining focused on its statutory responsibility of providing social insurance protection for Nigerian workers.

“The NSITF reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the welfare of Nigerian workers — the very 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.”