The house of representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct Wale Edun, minister of finance, to unfreeze all accounts of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) within 72 hours.
The resolution was passed by the lower legislative chamber during plenary on Tuesday.
This decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker, along with 20 other lawmakers.
The Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) under NSIPA include initiatives such as N-Power, the conditional cash transfer (CCT), the government enterprise and empowerment programme, and the home-grown school feeding initiative.
The lawmakers emphasized that unfreezing NSIPA’s accounts would ensure the smooth resumption of these programmes.
Additionally, the house urged the president to release funds to NSIPA to clear outstanding stipends owed to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries nationwide “without further delay.”
BACKGROUND
In 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari enacted a law establishing the NSIP. However, the agency has faced allegations of corruption since the start of the year.
On January 2, Tinubu suspended Halima Shehu, the chief executive officer (CEO) of NSIPA, over accusations of financial misconduct.
Six days later, on January 8, the president also suspended Betta Edu, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, who was overseeing NSIPA’s operations.
Subsequently, on January 12, all NSIPA-administered programmes were suspended as part of a probe into alleged mismanagement within the agency.
On March 13, the house of representatives called on the federal government to resume the suspended social investment initiatives.
Meanwhile, the senate is currently considering a bill proposing that NSIPA be placed under the supervision of the presidency.
To restore leadership at the agency, Tinubu appointed Badamasi Lawal as Shehu’s replacement.
THE MOTION
While presenting the motion, Kalu highlighted the significance of the social investment programmes in addressing poverty, empowering youth, and promoting economic inclusivity in Nigeria. However, he noted that the agency’s operations had been hampered by frozen accounts, inadequate funding, and administrative challenges.
“The smooth operations of the programmes and the fulfilment of the mandate of NSIPA are hindered due to the suspension/freezing of the accounts of the agency and other administrative bottlenecks, which has remained in force even more than 3 months after the President reconstituted the new management of NSIPA,” Kalu stated.
He pointed out that the frozen accounts conflict with Tinubu’s poverty alleviation agenda, undermining public trust and creating “administrative paralysis in fighting poverty.”
“As a result of the suspension of accounts of the NSIPA, the N-Power programme has been so negatively affected that 395,731 beneficiaries are owed outstanding stipends to the tune of N81,315,440,000 — a fund already captured under the 2023 and 2024 amended Appropriation Acts which will lapse by the year ending 31st December, 2024,” Kalu explained.
Restoring the agency’s accounts, Kalu argued, aligns with Tinubu’s vision and ensures that poverty alleviation efforts remain impactful. He stressed the importance of swift action to maintain the administration’s momentum toward eradicating poverty.
The house also directed the president to reopen all NSIPA warehouses nationwide.
The motion was unanimously adopted after being subjected to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.
Following this, the house resolved to transmit the decision to the senate for concurrence.
