By Isreal Joel
Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari has condemned alleged sponsored publications and protested against him and the Fund.
Speaking in his keynote address at the 2021 half-year and 3rd quarter performance review meeting in Jos, Ari said used the opportunity of the meeting to address the recent efforts by some elements to blackmail him and cast aspersions on the integrity of the fund.
He added that “Although Management had taken the decision not to respond to their allegations, I want to emphasize that our institution is renowned as sticklers to all processes and procedures, and rules and regulations guiding our activities.
In his words “It was in appreciation of this that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) named the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as the most ethics complaint and integrity Agency amongst 352 Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) surveyed by the Commission in 2020. ”
Lalong congratulates ITF DG, Joseph Ari @ 60
He stressed that “We are hopeful of carting home the award again this year, as we have continued and will always administer the Fund on the path of financial integrity and in compliance with all governmental regulations and processes, and shall not be distracted by mischief makers and detractors.
On the allegation of non-utilization of our capital votes, Ari said he would invite the organisers of the failed protest to visit the nine-story Lagos Island Area office in Lagos, Katsina Area office complex and vocational wing, Mechatronics workshop, and Administrative at the Industrial Skills Training Centre (ISTC), Kano, the E-Library complex and Stores complex at ITF Headquarters, the block of 13 classrooms and the Introductory Technology Laboratory at ITF Staff School, Jos, and other several laudable projects.
He added that all of these projects were commissioned by the supervising Ministers, the Hon Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, and his counterpart, the Hon Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum.
DG Ari also said that “I will also request them to visit our new ultra-modern office complexes and vocational wings in Awka, Aba, Gusau, Minna, Maiduguri, and Abuja Multipurpose Buildings that are awaiting commissioning. ” I want to assure you that rather than being distracted by our detractors, we will continue to follow the path of integrity and fiscal discipline as we strive to develop the ITF through the parsimonious application of the resources available to us ” he added.
