After the suspension of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP), the House of Representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu to accelerate the investigation into the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
The House noted that the suspension has exacerbated the difficulties faced by Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
Billy Osawaru, representing Edo under the PDP banner, voiced the concerns during a plenary session on Wednesday. He highlighted that the suspension of NSIP amidst escalating economic challenges is intensifying the struggles of those dependent on its support.
“The suspension is heightening the challenges, potentially leading to increased poverty, social unrest, and negatively impacting the nation’s stability and development,” He said
The lawmaker pointed to the recent spate of looting incidents as a clear indicator of the dire need for action.
“Immediate measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, such as reinstating all forms of social investment programmes,” he urged.
Osawaru also criticised the proposed shift of social investment programmes to the finance ministry, labelling it unlawful.
“The recommendation for a new steering committee led by the finance minister to oversee these programmes contradicts the law that places them under the humanitarian affairs ministry,” he explained.
He appealed to the House to direct a serving minister of state to manage the necessary approvals and implementation of the social investment programmes, to mitigate the impact of increasing hunger and suffering among vulnerable Nigerians.
The motion, passed unanimously without debate, also included a plea to the federal government to suspend the transfer of NSIP oversight to the finance ministry.
The controversy began when President Tinubu suspended Ms. Edu for authorising the transfer of N585.2 million into a civil servant’s private account, intended for grants to vulnerable groups. The president has since instructed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the ministry’s financial activities, extending to the entire framework of Nigeria’s social investment programmes.
The 37-year-old Ms. Edu has refuted any misconduct allegations, asserting that the transfer was sanctioned for the “implementation of grants to vulnerable groups.”
Amidst these developments, President Tinubu has also ordered the suspension of various NSIP initiatives, including the N-Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and Home Grown School Feeding Programme, pending the outcome of the investigations.
