President Tinubu Constitutes Committee To Review Social Investment Programmes

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has set up a panel to re engineer the  programmes under the  National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) of the administration.

This is coming up following reported massive fund diversion rocking various programmes under the social investment project.

The Minister in charge of the project, Beta Edu is currently on suspension, while her predecessor in office is also assisting the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unravel some deals during her tenure.

The president had suspended various empowerment programmes under the social investment on Friday.

A statement by the presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngalele on Saturday explained that this is “Sequel to President Bola Tinubu’s six-week suspension of the four (4) programmes under the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).

“President Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Special Presidential Panel, which will be led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.

“This Special Presidential Panel is tasked with immediately undertaking a comprehensive review and audit of existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the social investment programmes.

“This is with a view to implementing a total re-engineering of the financial architecture of the programmes with detailed modification to procedures guiding the programmes’ implementation moving forward.

“The Special Presidential Panel, which is comprised of ministers representing strategic sectors and will ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the reform effort, is made up of the following members:

“Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance – Chairman, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Member;

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Member.

Others are Minister of Information and National Orientation, Member; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Member and Minister of State for Youth – Member

The statement added that “President Tinubu anticipates that this Special Presidential Panel will validate the confidence reposed in it by winning back all lost public confidence in these vital programmes over the years.

“This will be achieved by ushering in a new era of operation based on open and accountable governance frameworks that will prove impervious to abuse and incompetence for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households across our nation.”