The management of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF has refuted a report published by some Online Newspapers, allegedly stated that the agency sponsored some Nigerian students abroad for overseas study, which ITF described as the handiwork of mischief makers.
In a statement made available to newsmen, in Abuja on Monday, by the Public Affairs Department ITF stated that;
” The attention of the management of the Industrial Training Fund has been drawn to some online publication alleging that the Nigeria Labour congress, NLC as part of its two-day solidarity strike with members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigeria University, ASUU, has listed names of Nigerians and public civil servants and institutions for picketing.
‘Our initial reactions was to dismissed the purported press statement credited to NLC, but that may further strengthen and serve as a basis for mischief makers who dwell in misleading the public about government policies.”
The statement further explained that in line with the mandate of the Industrial Trust Fund Established in 1971, the agency has operated consistently and painstakingly within the context of its enabling laws Decree 47 of 1971 as Amended in the 2011 ITF ACT, and the objective for which the Fund was established has been pursued vigorously and efficaciously.
According to the statement,in the four decades of its existence, ITF has not only raised training consciousness in the economy, but has also helped in generating a crops of skilled indigenous manpower which has been manning and managing various sectors of the nation’s economy.
Over the years, pursuant to its statutory responsibility, the ITF has expanded its structures, developed training programmes, reviewed its strategies, operations and services in order to meet the expanding, and changing demands for skilled manpower in the economy.
“In line with the mandate the industrial training fund does not sponsor Nigeria student to overseas or offer scholarship to foreign students or any Nigeria schooling abroad, rather it collaborates with other supervisory institutions like the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE and the Nigeria University Commission, NUC in the area of Technical and Skill acquisitions that are in line with the mandate and also send their staff overseas to acquire global best practices in skills.
“As part of its responsibilities, the ITF provides Direct Training, Vocational and Apprentice Training, Research and Consultancy Service, Reimbursement of up to 50% Training contribution paid by employers of labour registered with it and administers the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). It also provides human resource development information and training technology service to industry and commerce to enhance their manpower capacity and in-house training delivery effort.
The main thrust of ITF programmes and services is to stimulate human performance, improve productivity, and induce value-added production in industry and commerce. Through its SIWES and Vocational and Apprentice Training Programmes, the Fund also builds capacity for graduates and youth self-employment, in the context of Small Scale Industrialization, in the economy.
The Industrial Training Fund is a grade ‘A’ Parastatal operating under the aegis of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. It has been operating for 50 years as a specialist agency that promotes and encourages the acquisition of industrial”ITF said.
The Public Affairs Department therefore appealed to media institutions and practitioners described as partners in progress not to allowed themselves to be used to mislead the public.
The ITF management also reemphasized that it does not sponsor students overseas rather it was the staff of the agency that went for overseas study to acquire skills in global best practices, ITF further appealed to media practitioners to verify their stories before going to the publication.
“As an institution the ITF like any other Government Agency, parastatals are open to scrutiny, as statutory agency which books are subject of verifications and auditing by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, OAGoF, and the Auditor General of the Federation, AGoF and budgetary by the National Assembly”the statement concluded.
