The Minister of finance, Wale Edun, has relocated the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Ministry of Finance and Coordinating Economy, SaharaReporters reliably learnt.
SaharaReporters further gathered that a panel hurriedly set up by the minister recommended that the programmes should be resumed to alleviate the sufferings of poor and vulnerable Nigerians but that a new board under the leadership of Edun should oversee the social investment programmes, according to a top document exclusively obtained.
Titled: “Interim Report Of The Special Presidential Panel On Social Investment Programmes,” the paper recommended that a steering committee/board under the leadership of the Hon. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to oversee the coordination of programmes should be convened.
“Determine the future of the NSIPA by advocating for a proper review and amendment of the NSIPA act.”
It is not clear if President Bola Tinubu is aware of the minister’s moves.
SaharaReporters gathered that the move by Edun has ignited controversy, especially in light of President Tinubu’s earlier directive that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation should be in charge of the NSIPs.
Following the suspension of the humanitarian minister, Beta Edu, the previous overseer, the decision to shift NSIP to the Ministry of Finance and Coordinating Economy is raising concerns among critics.
Government officials fear that the move may lead to significant changes within the programmes, potentially involving the dissolution of the current board, removal of state coordinators, and the appointment of new leaders.
One of the concerned officials told SaharaReporters anonymously: “This is not a good move. The social investment programmes are currently domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“They are implemented by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) by law.
“The executive bill sent by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to the national assembly, placed the NSIPA, which is in charge of these social programmes, in the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation.
“A bill would have to be sponsored to amend the principal act.
“Anything outside of that is illegal and against the laws setting up the NSIPA.”