President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken the bold step of suspending all programs administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), according to a statement released by the Federal Government.
The decision, conveyed by the Director of Information, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, is a response to the ongoing investigation into alleged malfeasance within the agency and its various programs.
The suspension, effective for an initial period of six weeks, encompasses all four programs overseen by NSIPA: the N-Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and Home Grown School Feeding Programme.
The statement issued by Imohiosen emphasized President Tinubu’s concerns about operational lapses and improprieties surrounding payments to beneficiaries of these programs.
To address these concerns, President Tinubu has appointed a ministerial panel tasked with conducting a thorough review of NSIPA’s operations and recommending necessary reforms.
During the suspension period, all activities related to NSIPA, including distributions, events, payments, collaborations, and registrations, are to be temporarily halted.
President Tinubu’s commitment to a swift and unbiased process was underscored in the statement, assuring stakeholders and all Nigerians that the administration remains dedicated to ensuring social intervention programs function precisely as intended, benefiting the most vulnerable members of the Nigerian population.
The move to suspend NSIPA programs follows the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Halima Shehu, on January 2, amid allegations of financial malfeasance.
Shehu, who previously served as the National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, had worked with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development from 2017 to 2022.
Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo, the National N-POWER Program Manager, has been appointed in an acting capacity as NC/CEO during the suspension and investigation period.
This development comes approximately three months after the Senate confirmed Halima Shehu’s appointment, raising questions about the timing and circumstances surrounding the suspension.
As the investigation unfolds, President Tinubu aims to restore confidence in the integrity of NSIPA and its programs, ensuring that they align with their intended purpose to positively impact the most vulnerable sectors of the Nigerian population.
The nation awaits the findings and recommendations of the ministerial panel to shape the future of social intervention initiatives in the country.
