A former representative of Amuwo Odofin 1 Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Kehinde Alli-Macaulay, who repurposed COVID-19 palliatives as birthday gifts in 2020, has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The former broadcaster was among the new appointments announced by Ajuri Ngelale, a spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, on July 13, 2024.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the government distributed several packages to support families affected by the crisis. These packages included bags of rice, noodles, cooking oil, and money, among other relief materials.
Instead of distributing the palliatives to those in need, some state governors and lawmakers hoarded the materials, leading to nationwide looting of warehouses where the materials were stored. Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, a lawmaker at the Lagos House of Assembly at the time, repackaged her constituency’s share of the relief materials and distributed them to mark her 43rd birthday. Her actions drew criticism from her constituents and Nigerians at large.
In 2020, BudgIT and Connected Development (CODE) petitioned against Mrs. Alli-Macaulay. The petition alleged that she diverted CACOVID relief items for personal use, as part of her birthday souvenirs. The NGOs called for her investigation and prosecution for abuse of office and misuse of COVID-19 relief materials.
Despite the petition, nearly four years later, no action was taken by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Alli-Macaulay has now been appointed as the Executive Director of the NSITF under Tinubu’s administration.
Alli-Macaulay, born on October 10, 1977, represented Amuwo Odofin 1 Constituency from 2019 to 2023. She chaired the Lagos House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation, and Job Creation.
She was also a significant grassroots supporter of Tinubu’s presidential campaign during the 2023 general elections and remains influential within the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos.
Her new role at NSITF involves overseeing the planning of welfare for Nigerian workers who suffer work-related accidents and injuries. The agency ensures employers comply with employee compensation laws.
The ICPC, which received the petition in 2020, had not responded at the time of publication.
