The appointment of Charles E. Sylvester Emukowhate, as the Executive Director, Finance of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, has hit the brick wall on Wednesday.
Emukowhate who currently serving as Commissioner for Finance with National Pension Commission (PenCom), has been accused of alleged dual appointments and failure to render financial accounts for four years, following a petition before the upper legislative arm.
Consequently, the Senate has stepped down Emukowhate’s appointment as NSITF Executive Director for Finance until the investigation of the allegations before it.
The decision was taken during the screening of nominees for appointment and confirmation for NSITF and PENCOM Board members by the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service.
The session, which had earlier gone smoothly, took a dramatic turn when the petition against Mr. Emukowhate was read before the committee.
According to the petition, Mr. Emukowhate was accused of holding two public offices at the same time, serving as Commissioner for Finance in PENCOM and as a Board Member of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).
The Committee’s chairman, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, highlighted the allegations as serious and weighty, insisting that the committee could not go ahead with his reappointment until the issues raised were properly investigated.
Senator Fasuyi stated, “The committee received a petition alleging that Mr. Charles Emukowhate currently holds two federal positions as Commissioner for Finance in PENCOM and as a Board Member of the South-South Development Commission. This is a clear violation of public service regulations and constitutional provisions.”
The lawmaker further revealed that the committee had received credible reports indicating that under Mr. Emukowhate’s watch as Finance Commissioner, PENCOM had failed to submit any audited financial report for the past four years, a breach of financial accountability and transparency standards.
“These are serious issues that border on accountability and integrity. The Commission has not rendered any financial account for four years, which raises questions about transparency in its financial management. Until these issues are clarified, we cannot proceed with his reappointment,” Fasuyi added.
Meanwhile, constitutional provisions strictly prohibit dual appointments in the public service. Section 318(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Fifth Schedule, Part I, Paragraph 2(b) of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers state that a public officer shall not engage or participate in the management or running of any other public office, except as permitted by law.
Similarly, the Public Service Rules (PSR) 030402 classify holding two concurrent government appointments as a serious misconduct offence, punishable by dismissal from service.
Senator Fasuyi emphasized that the Senate would not overlook any breach of law or ethical standards, stressing that the committee would conduct due diligence on the matter before submitting its final report to the Senate plenary for further consideration.
“The Senate is committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and due process in all appointments. We must uphold the integrity of the pension system and ensure that those entrusted with public funds are beyond reproach,” he said.
Following deliberations, the committee resolved to step down Mr. Emukowhate’s screening pending further investigation into the allegations against him.
At the close of the screening session, all efforts by journalists to get Emukowhate’s comments did not yield positive results as he declined to speak and sneaked through the back door, with some of his supporters preventing the press men from catching up with him.
Recall that in May 2025 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr. Charles Efe Sylvester Emukowhate as the Executive Director, Finance of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).