MPs Grill NSSF Officials Over Appointment Of IGG’s Daughter
Ssali inisists buying shares in Umeme was in the best interest of the members.
The select committee investigating allegations of mismanagement in the National Social Security Fund-NSSF has demanded for the full list of employees in the fund.
The committee is investigating amongst others allegations of nepotism, irregular and unfair recruitment of staffs at NSSF.
On Friday, Geraldine Ssali, the acting NSSF acting manager appeared before the select committee, which is chaired by Vincent Ssempijja, the Kalungu East MP.
She was accompanied by Gerald Kasaato, the acting head of Investments, Mark Obi, acting Head of Marketing and Communications Edgar Barungi and their Lawyer David Mpanga.
During the meeting, the committee tasked Geraldine Ssali to explain the irregular recruitment of Elizabeth Nabakooza, the daughter to Irene Mulyagonja to the post of marketing officer.
Ssali explained that Nabakooza was appointed on a temporarily basis adding that it was a practice in NSSF that they do not advertise temporary vacancies which last only 3 months.
She disclosed that NSSF maintains a data base of personel with desirable qualifications and skills who have worked with the fund, who they can call up on a temporary basis whenever there is a gap.
Ssali explained that the marketing department was in need of two people with a bias in mass communication adding that, when they consulted the data base they ended up with three people including Nabakooza who had performed exceptionally during her internship with NSSF.
She says the third candidate lost out because she had skills in sales yet they wanted a person with marketing skills.
Ssempijja tasked the management to avail the committee with the interview and assessment results.
In her response Ssali said she didn’t carry along the result since she had delegated the human resource department to handle the assessment.
According to Ssali, she was only informed that the Human resource department had zeroed in on two candidates and didn’t follow up on the matter any further.
Ann Maria Nankabirwa, a committee member questioned whether it wasusual in NSSF to recruit people on a temporary basis and no interviews or assessments are done and whether it is possible that one can find different employees in NSSF with different appointing authorities since the MD delegates such powers and does not follow up.
Ssali noted that it is possible that different employees in NSSF have appointments with signatures of different authorities since she usually delegates others to do so especially when she is engaged and out of office.
Ssempijja noted that they had received complaints on how NSSF conducts its appointments saying they would invite some of the people to expound on their complaints.
He tasked the NSSF management to provide the committee with the full list if its employees so that it can facilitate their investigations.
On Thursday July 10, 2014, Odonga Otto, the Aruu County MP tabled a motion on the floor of parliament in which he complained of abuse at the NSSF.
He accused the fund of irregularly acquiring shares in Umeme and also accused the NSSF board chairperson of interfering with the recruitment process of the managing director.
He noted that despite the fact that, Edgar Agaba was the best candidate for the position of NSSF Managing Director, Patrick Ayota for Deputy and Richard Wabwire Wejura for the position of Corporation Secretary they were not appointed.
As a result, Rebecca Kadaga, the speaker of parliament appointed a select committee to investigate the claims and report back to the house.
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