Nigerians kick over Tinubu’s appointment of ex-Lagos lawmaker, Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, accused of diverting COVID-19 palliatives, as NSITF boss
- The palliatives diverted as birthday souvenirs by Hon. Mojisola Kehinde Alli-Macaulay in 2020
By Emma Ogbuehi
The appointment by President Bola Tinubu of a former representative of Amuwo Odofin 1 Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Kehinde Alli-Macaulay, who repackaged COVID-19 palliatives as birthday souvenirs in 2020, as the Executive Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), is distasteful to a cross-section of Nigerians.
The former newscaster was among the new set of appointments announced by Ajuri Ngelale, a spokesman to President Bola Tinubu on July 13, 2024.
Ngelale’s statement titled, “President Tinubu Appoints New Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Fund,” read:
“President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
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“Mr. Faleye is a legal and corporate finance specialist.
“President Tinubu has also approved the appointment of Mrs. Mojisolaoluwa Kehinde Alli-Macaulay as the Executive Director (Operations) of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
“Mrs. Alli-Macaulay is a former lawmaker and former Chairperson of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation, and Job Creation.
“The President anticipates a comprehensive re-positioning of the NSITF for enhanced social protection and qualitative service delivery to the Nigerian people.”
But unimpressed Nigerians who spoke to TheNiche averred that the appointment was yet another proof that the Tinubu administration rewards, rather than frown at corruption.
In the peak of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the government rolled out several packages including bags of rice, noodles, cooking oil as relief materials to support families whose livelihoods were affected.
But instead of distributing the palliative to the needy, some state governors and lawmakers hoarded the materials, leading to a nationwide looting of stores where the materials were kept.
Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, a lawmaker at Lagos House of Assembly at the time repackaged her constituency share of the relief materials and distributed it to mark her 43rd birthday. Her actions received backlash among her constituents and Nigerians in general.
- The repackaged palliatives used as birthday souvenir’s
Alli-Macaulay, born on October 10, 1977, represented Amuwo Odofin 1 Constituency between 2019 to 2023. She headed the Lagos House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation.
She was one the most influential grassroots supporters for Tinubu’s presidency during the 2023 general election and remained a voice in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.
In a letter dated October 31, 2020, and addressed to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), BudgIT Foundation and Connected Development (CODE), called for the investigation and prosecution of the Mrs Alli-Macaulay for abuse of her office and diversion of relief materials for COVID-19 for personal use.
Part of the petition read: “A case in point is the allegation against Honourable Mojisola Alli-Macaulay. On October 28, 2020, a social media report showed that she allegedly diverted CACOVID relief items for personal use, as part of her birthday souvenirs. We find these allegations of corruption to be a gross violation of Nigerian laws which is tantamount to using public office to appropriate support of vulnerable Nigerians for personal gain.”
- The petition by BudgIT and CODE
BudgIT and CODE are two NGOs in Nigeria leading the advocacy for fiscal transparency and accountability in public finance.
But nearly four years after the petition was submitted to one of Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, nothing was heard about the case until the former lawmaker got a new appointment under Tinubu’s government as Executive Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
Her agency will be in charge of planning welfare for Nigerian workers who encounter work-related accidents and injuries while serving the country. NSITF ensures that employers comply with employee compensation in the event of injuries.
The ICPC that received the petition in 2020 was yet to react at the time of publication.
One of the people who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “This is another proof that corruption pays in this country. And that explains why the country is where it is, apparently stuck in the mud of malfeasance. People who should be in prison are the ones calling the shots. What a shame.”
A resident of Amuwo-Odofin said, “I remember vividly when that happened. It was a proof of how heartless our so-called leaders are. Now she has been elevated. And people are wondering why the country is not making progress. Any country that condones such atrocity can only stagnate.”
Mr. Adegoroye Ishola, a Lagosian, said, “Corruption is our trademark. Our leaders have destroyed our beautiful and endowed country, leaving the youths in a hopeless situation and vulnerable to crime and violence. Only God will judge you heartless and wicked leaders.”
