MURIC’s Allegations Against Us, Totally False, Calculated Misinformation – ITF

BY VICTOR BUORO – The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has described as outright lies, deliberate and calculated misinformation the statement credited to the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in which it alleged that the Fund is involved in nepotism.

The ITF explained that the recruitment exercise conducted in February, 2019 which MURIC hinged its allegation of Christianisation” and “Plateaurisation” on followed all due processes and was co-ordinated by the Federal Character Commission, which even issued a letter of compliance to the Fund after the exercise. The Fund said that of particular note was the fact that the Director General, Mr Joseph Ari recused himself from the examination/interview sessions that were conducted by a panel that comprised officials of its parent ministry- the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Character Commission and the ITF Governing Council, which is headed by Alhaji Musa Gwadabe, a detribalised Nigerian among others.

The ITF in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, Suleyol Fred-Chagu also described the allegation by MURIC that the Director General of the agency is involved in wrongful appointments and marginalization of Muslims as totally untrue and misleading.

The Public Affairs Director said that the reality is that as a consummate and experienced administrator, the DG has ensured that all zones are represented in the management of the organisation, which is the first time such has happened in the history of the Fund.

She said that the Director-General is a devoted Christian, whose lineage, including his direct siblings is populated by both religions, stressing that as a result of this, he does not believe in nepotism and tribalism and most especially, does not indulge in religious bigotry.

In the words of Fred-Chagu; “Indeed, the DG is a detribalised Nigerian who has formed long lasting and enduring relationships cutting across all faiths and tribes in Nigeria.

“MURIC further cited the constitution of the Fund’s Management to buttress its baseless accusation of ‘Christianisation’ of the Agency as only four Muslims were appointed into a fifteen-member management body during his first tenure while five are currently in the team of seventeen in his second term”.

“This is also sadly untrue. The reality is that as a consummate and experienced administrator, the DG has ensured that all zones are represented in management, which is the first time such has happened in the history of the organisation.

“However, it will be necessary to note that there will be disparities in the constitution of any management due to the fact that other considerations namely: seniority, merit, vacancies apart from spread of representation are factored into the process.

“It will also be necessary to remind MURIC that the ITF system is close to 50 years with a well-developed chain of command that has been structured to the point that the succession process into management has been well entrenched and embedded in the organisation such that no Chief Executive can circumvent the process and impose favoured candidates,” ITF stressed.