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Crisis in NSITF takes new dimension as splinter group says ASSBIFI leadership now rogue union
The industrial crisis rocking the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF has taken a new dimension as a splinter group has disassociated itself from the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (SSBIFI) which staged a protest today.
In a press statement Monday, the group which goes by the name, ‘The Stability Group of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund dissociated itself from today’s industrial action, saying it was politically motivated.
The group also declared that the leader of the unit ASSBIFI, Bala Tijani has drifted from a hitherto declared crusade for the welfare of staff to rogue unionism.
In the statement, which its membership is more than 3,700 staff members employed between 2016-2023, and whose leaders chose anonymity for now, for strategic reasons, said they would watch no further as Bala and his cohorts hide under the facade of unionism to drive selfish political pursuits, corruption, orchestrated witch hunt and mischief detrimental to the collective interests of staff members.
The statement reads- “Comrades, we write you on behalf of the 3700 staff members who hitherto belonged to the ASSBIFI NSITF Unit. We have watched with, distress, dismay and great pain how the present leadership of our unit ASSBIFI led by Mr Tijanni Bala and his cohorts have been engaging in anti- union, anti- staff welfare activities by delving into politics and dragging all of us into unnecessary confrontation with the relevant authorities including but not limited to our Ministry, now being managed by our able Permanent Secretary.
“We shall not fold our arms and watch Bala and his mischievous journey men confront and defy the constituted authority of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, now led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Daju Kachalon who has already apprehended the internal dispute in line with section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act and invited both the unions and the NSITF management to a meeting on Tuesday, 27th June, 2023.
” Whose interest is Bala and cohorts representing by shunning negotiation properly convened by the Ministry ? Certainly not that of the staff of the NSITF.
“Moreover, we have traced the tacit underground support being given by ASSBIFI National to Tijanni Bala and renegades. We are therefore serving the Management, the notice of withdrawal of our entire membership from ASSBIFI.
“We are doing so under the ILO principle of FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION and Section 40 of 1999 Constitution as amended .
“We shall communicate in writing to the Management in due course, our new Unions as we discuss with NUBUIFFE and others when we conclude our negotiations with any other serious like minded Unions. Management will receive our letter duly signed by each member.
“Consequently, our check off dues for June 2023 and other succeeding months should not be paid to ASBIFFI forthwith. We further urge all good staff members to go about their duties. ”
The statement further added that the disputed issues were not new and were being effectively handled by the current Management more than the ex-while Excos before it and should therefore be accorded support.
“For example on remittance of deducted taxes, pensions and NHF as alleged by rogue unionists, the
management showed evidence that our current taxes and pensions are up to date.They also showed evidence of agreed plans for remittance on monthly installment, of the remaining arrears of the 2013- 2017 in the next few months.
“Bala and his clique know that this present Exco Management has done their best in liquidating these funds not accrued in their tenure. He knows that the three previous non- performing Excos led by two of the persons funding this insurrection couldn’t achieve half of the strides made in staff welfare by the current Exco.
“Bala and his cabal know full well that the current Exco promised that staff NHF will get to them shortly and in fact some have gotten.
“Besides, on the issue of staff demotion through the merger of Deputy Manager and Manager, we put on record that the union Exco led by Bala with his selfish acolytes were part of all discussions and even signed the report and request by former Managing Director, Mike Akabogu to the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission that subsequently froze further promotion for 2021/ 2022 unless the fund reverts to the Public Service 9-tier wage structure. They also froze any wage review in NSITF until these two conditions are met. Management on the instructions of the Ministry set up a mixed Committee of Management and our two Unions representatives.
“We were represented and the final report/agreement was sent to NSIWC. Our Unions’ Exco followed to the parent Ministry and NSIWC to defend the report before it was implemented and the embargo on promotions lifted. Some of us benefitted from the promotion exercises, and others did not. Who is at fault please?
“A sensible and honest unionism will seek for another round of discussion on this from management and the Ministry, seeking for a buy-in for a new proposal to the NSIWC. This is certainly not the arm-twisting, character assassination and threats can achieve.
“We detest the current attempt to heat up the fund, cause chaos in an already discovered plan by the union and their external sponsors to cause the dissolution of a performing management team. We are no morons.
“The road side talk of signing the report under duress holds no water. It sounds stupid for Bala and Co to claim they were marched under duress to defend the report at NSIWC, went to the Ministry twice to defend same.
“Has Bala told all of us that at a time, the then Minister refused to agree to some points in the report including the merger of Deputy Manager and Manager and referred the union back to Congress only for the Bala led union to emerge with the resolution to defend the merger. Why this deceit and lies now ? “Similarly, the review of wages and salaries has the backing of Bala who from available records was until recently a staff in the Finance Department. He and four other union members were a part of making of the new wages with the Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission based on the approval to match NSITF with TETFUND, of course predicated on ability to pay.
“Why didn’t Bala and cohorts confront them at National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission? They accepted only to realise six months later that consolidated salaries is not good.
“We wish to also inform all that wages in the public service – from the President to the last man in the service is consolidated including transport, housing, utilities, lunch. Only special allowances are not. Bala knows this, yet decided to incite members.
“The issue of recruitment of staff since 2020 and promotion is one that fully exposed the nepotism that Bala and cabal have been trying hard to disguise. The recruitment of qualified persons to fill vacant positions where the existing staff members fail on grounds of competence cannot be faulted. The promotion of deserving staff members who passed exams and turning down others who failed the promotion exam or were not promoted because of lack of vacancies can also not be faulted.
“60% of our membership came into NSITF between 2016 to 2023 and ASSBIFI both Domestic unit and National have been ‘swallowing’ our check off dues, of course being mismanaged, misappropriated by Bala and his cabal without accountability.
“Time has come for Bala and his gang , one of whom is in the Real Estate Department in the Head Office to account for about N64m said to have been spent on travels and publicity since they were elected.
“There is no basis whatsoever to witch hunt a properly recruited staff members whose appointments passed statutory endorsements from the Head of Service of the Federation, the Ministry of Labour and Employment Budget Office, and the Federal Character Commission, the final approval authority and the President in the case of Management Exco.
“But as workers in unionism, do we have the right to dictate to our employer how to run his enterprise. Staff who failed exams set by Public Service Institute as advised by Office of the Head of Service were shown their score. Same for Computer based tests by Human Resources Department.
“It is therefore wicked for Bala and his rouge unionists to demand that all staff employed between 2020 and 2023 be first sacked and then followed by 2016 to 2020 notwithstanding the very high unemployment rate in the country even when their engagement followed due process.
“Interestingly, some of his criminal cohorts are also caught in this bracket but unfortunately behaving and talking as if NSITF were their birthplace,” the statement concluded.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has been elected President of the Board of Governors of the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD).
Anosike who is also Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the World Meteorogical Organization, would provide over the Continental body for four years.
The NiMet CEO was elected on 10 September 2026 in Cotonou, Benin Republic, during the 24th Ordinary Session of the ACMAD Board of Governors, held back-to-back with the 22nd African Climate Outlook Forum (ACCOF22).
As President of the Board, Professor Anosike is expected to provide strategic leadership in advancing stronger institutional governance, productive partnerships, and effective climate services for Africa, while supporting ACMAD’s mandate to enhance the application of weather and climate information for sustainable socio-economic development across the continent.
The election further reinforces NiMet’s strategic leadership position within Africa’s meteorological community and Nigeria’s commitment to advancing effective weather and climate services for the safety of lives and property; climate resilience; and stronger economies across the continent.
His emergence comes at a critical time when African countries are strengthening their capacities to anticipate, prepare for and respond to increasing weather and climate-related risks in line with the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.
The session brought together members of the ACMAD Board of Governors and key institutional partners to review progress and strengthen the strategic direction and governance of the Centre. The high-level opening featured Dr. Ousmane Ndiaye, Director-General of ACMAD; Dr. Adamou Aïssatou Sitta, Vice-President of the ACMAD Board and Director of Niger Meteorological Services; Mr. Harsen Nyambe, Director of the African Union Commission (AUC) Department of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE); and H.E. Georges Alé, Benin’s Minister of Living Environment and Transport, in charge of Sustainable Development.
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, has condemned the fatal stabbing of Mr. Ibrahim Khalil Danshagamu, a public commentator, at his residence in Gaida Quarters, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.
Ojukwu said the Commission received with shock the report by the Kano State Police Command that Mr. Danshagamu was attacked by unknown assailants who forcibly entered his residence on Monday, 8 September 2026.
He noted that the victim was subsequently rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialists Hospital, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
The Executive Secretary described the killing as a grave violation of the fundamental right to life, guaranteed under Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In a statement by Hajia Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, the NHRC boss expressed particular concern about the implications of the killing for freedom of expression and civic participation, noting that Mr. Danshagamu was known for expressing views on governance and public policy.
According to him, citizens must be able to express their opinions, criticise public authorities and participate in public discourse without fear of violence, intimidation or reprisal.
Chief Ojukwu acknowledged that the Police had arrested two suspects and commenced investigation, but urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Kano State Police Command to treat the matter as one of urgent national importance.
He called for a prompt, thorough, impartial and transparent investigation, stressing that the authorities must establish not only those who carried out the attack but also the motive, sponsors, financiers, organisers and anyone who aided or facilitated the killing.
The learned Silk further demanded that all suspects against whom credible evidence is established be expeditiously prosecuted, warning that the investigation must not be allowed to stall or disappear into the system.
Chief Ojukwu called on the Federal Government, Kano State Government and all security agencies to immediately review and strengthen protective measures for journalists, bloggers, public commentators, human rights defenders and other citizens whose work or opinions may expose them to threats.
He warned that, as Nigeria approaches a critical political and electoral period, violence must never become a response to criticism, dissent or public commentary, stressing that democratic participation can only thrive where citizens are safe to speak, question and disagree.
The Chief Human Rights Officer of the country extended the Commission’s condolences to the family, friends and associates of the late Mr. Danshagamu and assured them that the NHRC would closely monitor the investigation and engage relevant authorities to ensure that justice is pursued to its logical conclusion.
The NHRC Boss stressed that “in a democracy, dissent is not a crime. Criticism must be answered with dialogue and accountability, not violence.”
He added that the time for condemnation alone was over, insisting that the perpetrators must be found, the truth established and justice done.
The Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa, NNHRI-WA, has called for stronger independence, funding, and regional collaboration for NHRIs to address rising insecurity, shrinking civic space, and barriers to justice across the ECOWAS region.
President of NNHRI-WA and Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s Human Rights Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR, SAN, made the call at Network’s Eighth Regional Conference and Annual General Assembly held in Abidjan from 7 to 8 September 2026.
The event was hosted by the Commission Nationale des Droits de l’Homme de Côte d’Ivoire, CNDH-CI, and supported by the ECOWAS Commission, OHCHR-WARO, UNOWAS and UNAIDS.
Twelve National Human Rights Institutions from Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo participated alongside regional and international partners.
Declaring the conference open, Ojukwu said human rights, democracy, development, peace and good governance are “mutually reinforcing pillars.”
He noted progress in democratic governance across the region, but warned of continuing challenges including unconstitutional changes of government, violent extremism, poverty, displacement, and declining public trust.
He urged NHRIs to move beyond reacting to violations and focus more on prevention and early warning.
A statement by Hajia Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages at the NHRC, said the ECOWAS Commission, represented by Mr. Ebenezer Asiedu, reaffirmed its commitment to keep human rights at the heart of the ECOWAS architecture and encouraged NHRIs to be “bold and innovative.”
OHCHR-WARO Regional Representative, Mr. Robert Kotchani, said NHRIs have a key role in protecting women, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
In the review of the 2025 Abuja Communique, member institutions reported progress on OPCAT detention monitoring, transitional justice, migration, climate change, and election observation.
On detention and justice, almost all institutions reported overcrowding and prolonged pre-trial detention.
Ghana reported remand overcrowding above 130 percent capacity and the passage of a new Community Service Act for non-custodial sentencing.
Nigeria cited its toll-free line 6472 and the use of criminal justice committees to identify wrongful detention. Sierra Leone and Togo also reported nationwide prison monitoring.
On political rights, The Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal presented models of NHRI involvement across the electoral cycle, including monitoring, hate speech tracking, and voter education.
Delegates called for greater inclusion of women, youth, persons with disabilities and the diaspora.
On business and human rights, Nigeria reported amending the NHRC Act to include an express business-and-human-rights mandate.
Senegal said it is finalizing a draft National Action Plan to become the first francophone country with one, while The Gambia said it is at an early stage following stakeholder consultations.
Delegates also flagged two recurring challenges: difficulties with intra-regional free movement despite the ECOWAS Protocol, and unresolved questions on eligibility and cut-off points in reparations processes.
The Conference resolved to deepen peer learning, conduct joint monitoring missions, and strengthen engagement with ECOWAS, the AU and the UN.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Ojukwu said the legitimacy of NHRIs “is measured not by the offices we occupy, but by the difference we make in the lives of ordinary citizens.”
The Ninth Regional Conference and General Assembly will be convened in 2027.
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