In a resounding move during Tuesday’s plenary, the House of Representatives issued a 72-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, urging the unfreezing of accounts belonging to the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).
The motion, spearheaded by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and supported by 20 lawmakers, reflects growing concerns over the stalled operations of key social welfare programmes.
The lower legislative chamber’s resolution aims to reinvigorate social investment initiatives such as N-Power, conditional cash transfers, and the home-grown school feeding programme.
These programmes, pivotal in addressing poverty and empowering vulnerable Nigerians, have been crippled by administrative delays and frozen accounts.
Kalu, addressing the chamber, emphasized the paradox of hindering NSIPA’s operations despite the administration’s stated commitment to poverty alleviation.
The deputy speaker criticized the prolonged freeze on accounts as a bottleneck that undermines public trust and exacerbates hardship for millions of beneficiaries.
“The smooth operations of these programmes are hindered due to the suspension of accounts, which contradicts the President’s mandate on poverty alleviation,” Kalu noted.
“It erodes public confidence and delays critical stipends owed to over 395,000 N-Power beneficiaries.”
The financial hurdles facing NSIPA can be traced to allegations of corruption that engulfed the agency earlier this year.
In January, President Tinubu suspended NSIPA’s former CEO, Halima Shehu, and Betta Edu, then minister of humanitarian affairs, over suspected financial mismanagement.
These suspensions led to a halt in the agency’s operations, including freezing its accounts.
Since then, the government has appointed Badamasi Lawal as NSIPA’s new CEO and reconstituted its leadership.
However, despite these changes, the agency’s programmes remain in limbo, with N-Power beneficiaries owed a staggering ₦81 billion in stipends.
The delay in disbursing funds has had a ripple effect on beneficiaries who rely on these programmes for economic sustenance.
For many, the frozen accounts signify not just administrative inefficiency but a direct disruption to their livelihoods.
By adopting the resolution, lawmakers are pushing for the immediate release of funds earmarked under the 2023 and 2024 amended Appropriation Acts, which will lapse at the end of December 2024.
The House’s intervention underscores mounting pressure on the Tinubu administration to align its policies with its promises.
Observers argue that resolving the NSIPA stalemate is critical for maintaining the government’s credibility on poverty alleviation.
Tuesday’s motion also highlighted the broader issue of governance and accountability within Nigeria’s social welfare systems.
With the Senate poised to consider a bill placing NSIPA under direct presidential oversight, the legislative push may set the stage for more centralized control of poverty alleviation efforts.
In addition to unfreezing NSIPA’s accounts, the House has called for the reopening of all NSIPA warehouses nationwide to facilitate the smooth delivery of social investment initiatives.
The lawmakers argue that these actions are not merely administrative corrections but necessary steps to ensure the effective implementation of programmes designed to uplift the most vulnerable Nigerians.
As the 72-hour deadline looms, all eyes are on the presidency and the finance ministry to act decisively.
The resolution, which awaits Senate concurrence, serves as a stark reminder of the urgency required to address the socio-economic challenges facing millions across the country.
The House’s move reflects a broader frustration with the delays in implementing critical welfare programmes.
As the Tinubu administration navigates these challenges, the swift resolution of NSIPA’s operational issues will be pivotal in demonstrating its commitment to inclusive development and poverty eradication.