The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, tasked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the need to resume the implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) in order to alleviate the increasing hardship faced by Nigerians across the country.
The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion of Urgent Public Importance.
The lawmakers observed that the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) enabling Act was enacted in 2023 to address the issues of poverty and hunger across the country, as well as to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations, including children, youth, and women.
Concerned by the allegations surrounding the misapplication of the NSIP funds, which led to the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, the lawmakers opposed the proposal of a 6-man Presidential Panel to set up a Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the social investment programmes.
They noted that since January of this year, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development was suspended and placed under investigation, while the Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency were sacked and replaced with new appointees.
“The House is aware that as a result of the above, the implementation of all forms of government intervention, such as the N-Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and Home Grown School Feeding Programme, which are expected to ameliorate the suffering of people, were placed on hold, pending a thorough review of the programme and investigation of alleged misconduct in its management.
“The House is concerned that halting the implementation of the programme, particularly during this period of increasing hardship, has the implication of heightening the challenges of the vulnerable population relying on its assistance and could lead to a rise in poverty levels, social unrest, and ultimately impact negatively on the overall stability and development of the country.
“The House is further concerned about the recent cases of looting of warehouses and food trucks in many cities across the country as a result of increasing hunger and suffering, which signals the need for immediate action to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, such as the resumption of all forms of Social Investment Programme.
“The House is relieved that the interim report of the 6-man probe panel appointed by Mr. President to investigate the allegations surrounding the embattled Minister has recommended the resumption of the programme.
“The House is worried that an alleged recommendation suggesting that a new steering committee board under the leadership of the Minister of Finance should henceforth oversee the social investment programmes is not only an anomaly but contravenes the extant law, which situates the implementing agency and programmes under the purview of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“The House observes that while there may be legislative actions to amend the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2023, up until the Act is completely amended and enacted, the current status quo cannot be reviewed by mere executive action,” the House noted.
In a bid to address the concerns, the House urged the Federal Government to expedite the completion of the investigation of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and to instigate further actions. In the meantime, they directed a serving Minister of State to oversee relevant approvals and implementation of the National Social Investment Programme to minimize the adverse implications of increasing hunger and suffering experienced by vulnerable Nigerians relying on the programme.
The lawmakers also tasked the Federal Government to place on hold the alleged idea of a new steering committee board under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance to oversee the social investment programmes since such an idea contravenes the extant law, which positions the implementing agency and programmes under the purview of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
