The presidency says Frank Kokori is no longer the nominee to head the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, in reaction to the growing controversy over the matter.
In a statement on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said the position of the Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, that a new person had been appointed to chair the NSITF board, had the backing of the President.
Mr. Ngige has been involved in a tussle with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the Minister’s refusal to inaugurate the board as announced by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in 2017.
The NLC insisted that Mr. Kokori must be sworn in as chairman of the board of the NSITF.
In his statement on Sunday, Mr. Adesina said “the presidency has noted with deep concern and regrets, the events that culminated in a skirmish at the private residence of the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, and condemns it, in its entirety.”
Mr. Adesina also confirmed Mr. Ngige’s earlier statement that Mr. Kokori has been nominated for a separate position.