President Bola Tinubu has issued a temporary suspension on all activities carried out by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) amid an ongoing investigation into alleged malfeasance within the agency’s management. The announcement was made through a statement released on Friday by Segun Imohiosen, the Director of Information for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The suspension encompasses all four programs administered by NSIPA, namely the N-Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and Home Grown School Feeding Programme, and is initially set for a duration of six weeks. President Tinubu expressed apprehension regarding operational irregularities and improprieties linked to payments for the beneficiaries of these programs, prompting the establishment of a ministerial panel tasked with conducting a thorough review of NSIPA’s operations and proposing necessary reforms.
Throughout the suspension period, all NSIPA-related activities, including distributions, events, payments, collaborations, and registrations, will be put on hold.
President Tinubu reassured stakeholders and the Nigerian public of his administration’s unwavering commitment to a prompt and unbiased process, aiming to ensure that social intervention programs align precisely with their intended purpose, ultimately benefiting the most vulnerable members of the Nigerian population.
Responding to the allegations of financial malfeasance, President Tinubu took the step of suspending the Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, Halima Shehu, on January 2.
In her absence, Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, the National N-POWER Program Manager, has assumed the role of NC/CEO in an acting capacity during the investigation. This decision comes merely three months after Halima Shehu’s confirmation by the Senate.