President Tinubu Halts Programmes Under NSIPA For Six Months

By Ayodele Oni

Following ongoing investigation into their operations, the Federal Government has suspended all programmes of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).

This was contained in a statement by the Director of Information in the office of Secretary to Government of the Federation, (SGF), Segun Imohiosen.

The suspension, according to the statement, also included the NPower programmes.

The statement reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has suspended all administered programmes by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

“This is further to the ongoing investigation of alleged malfeasance in the management of the agency and its programmes.

“All four (4) Programmes administered by NSIPA, viz; N- Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home Grown School Feeding Programme (the “Programs”) have been suspended for a period of six (6) weeks in the first instance.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also raised significant concerns regarding operational lapses and improprieties surrounding payments to the Programs’ beneficiaries.

“He has therefore constituted a ministerial panel to conduct a thorough review of the Agency’s operations with a view to recommending necessary reforms of the NSIPA.

”During the period of this suspension, all NSIPA-related activities, including but not limited to all distributions, events, payments, collaborations and registrations are now frozen.

“The President wishes to assure the stakeholders and all Nigerians that his administration remains committed to a swift and unbiased process that will ensure that, going forward, social intervention programmes will work exactly as intended, to the benefit of the most vulnerable Nigerians.”

This development followed the suspension of Halima Shehu as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Shehu, recently screened and confirmed by the Senate, is accused of financial malfeasance.

Shehu oversaw the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari to assist vulnerable groups and individuals.

She is reportedly being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).