NSITF, Ex-Legal Chief Dismiss Sahara Reporters’ Crisis Claims, Deny Mass Resignations

..... As Fund dismisses the allegations as a deliberate distortion of facts.

..... Insist that the organisation remains stable and focused on its statutory mandate.

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and its former General Manager, Legal Services, Mr. Innocent Eremionkhale, have firmly rejected reports alleging a leadership crisis and mass resignations within the organisation, describing the claims as misleading and devoid of factual basis.

The rebuttal follows a June 4, 2026 report published by Sahara Reporters, which suggested that internal disagreements within the Fund had triggered a wave of resignations and deepened tensions among senior management.

However, in a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Alexandra Mede, the Fund dismissed the allegations as a deliberate distortion of facts, insisting that the organisation remains stable and focused on its statutory mandate.

According to NSITF, claims of widespread resignations are inaccurate, noting that staff departures referenced in the report were voluntary and formed part of ongoing organisational restructuring efforts aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery.

"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 statement said.

The Fund further stressed that there has been no mass resignation of personnel and that management operations continue unhindered.

In a separate statement that appeared to directly counter the narrative presented in the report, Eremionkhale distanced himself from suggestions that his departure was linked to any dispute with the Fund's leadership.

The former legal chief stated unequivocally that he neither resigned under pressure nor exited the organisation as a result of disagreements with the Managing Director or members of management.

"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," he said.

His clarification effectively challenges one of the central claims of the report, which had insinuated that his exit was a consequence of internal conflict.

NSITF maintained that attempts to portray the organisation as being embroiled in crisis were unfounded and capable of creating unnecessary anxiety among contributors, beneficiaries and stakeholders.

The Fund consequently urged the public to disregard what it described as speculative reports and remain confident in its commitment to delivering social insurance services to Nigerian workers across the country.

The development comes as the Fund continues to pursue reforms and operational restructuring initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional efficiency and expanding social protection coverage for workers in both the formal and informal sectors.

With both the organisation and one of the principal figures cited in the report publicly refuting the allegations, NSITF insists that its leadership remains united and focused on fulfilling its mandate despite attempts to portray a contrary picture.