By Muhammad Tanimu
Abuja
There was pandemonium in Abuja on Wednesday when some top management staff of Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) allegedly abandoned their cars and scaled perimeter fence, possibly to evade arrest by FCT COVID-19 Enforcement team.
NSITF was alleged to have gathered a large crowd of its staff across the country for a promotional Examination exercise at M and M Event Centre, Area 11, Garki.
Head, Media and Enlightenment of the Team, Ikharo Attah, said his team stormed the NSITF venue for the exercise, following a tip off, that the exercise was going on without compliance with COVID-19 health protocols.
He noted that while NSITF labour leaders resisted arrest of the offending officers, they also took advantage of the rowdy situation to jump through the fence and escaped.
Attah, however confirmed that while the General Manager, Health Safety and Environment and other top directors escaped, one person was arrested.
Attah who expressed disappointment that a frontline agency of government, like NSITF failed to lead by example, also vowed that the fleeing directors and others who flaunted the Presidential regulations shall be prosecuted.
While he reiterated the commitment of the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello to the health and safety of all residents, he warned that the laws will not spare any organisation or individual that violates the Presidential regulations.
According to him, the enforcement of regulations in FCT can’t be compromised by any standard, as health of residents and other citizens was of utmost consideration to Nigeria’s economic growth.
He said: ” we got a complaint from some of the staff of NSITF that the exercise was going on without any regard to the Presidential regulations, that was why we stormed there.
” On arrival at M and M Event Centre, Area 11, Garki, we discovered that NSITF has gathered its staff from different states across the country for a promotional exam, without complying with COVID-19 guidelines.
” They claimed PTF had approved the exercise, but could not produce any evidence, while the union leaders refused that our team should not arrest anyone, the too directors abandoned their cars, scaled through fence and escaped”.