The Civil Society Coalition Against Corruption has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate the non-remittance of N2.1 billion in workers’ tax deductions, duplicated contracts, and frivolous spending of public funds at the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The petition, signed on behalf of the coalition by Ayodeji Ologun of the Transparency and Accountability Group (TAG), alleges that the funds were deducted from workers’ salaries in 2022 but not remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The coalition claimed that the funds were invested with a company not approved by the board, instead of being remitted to the FIRS.
They demand that the EFCC and ICPC investigate the allegations and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Briefing journalists on Friday in Abuja after submitting the petition, Ologun said: “As a leading anti-corruption group in Nigeria, we would be failing in our duties and responsibilities if we turned a blind eye to wanton corruption and did not bring it to the public domain.
“We have keenly watched happenings in this agency over the last two years and have painstakingly identified and investigated some of these frauds, particularly those related to procurement and non-remittance of taxes. We call on both the EFCC and ICPC to ensure that these funds are not looted by people masquerading as lovers of the masses. We demand that these contractors be investigated thoroughly to ascertain whether they genuinely took contracts from the agency or are merely fronting for corrupt officials.
“We demand that those found culpable should honourably resign and tender unreserved apologies to Nigerians for superintending and making the agency more corrupt. We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the series of crises rocking the agency, which causes clashes between the union and management every day.”
