The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to place on hold the alleged idea of a new steering committee board under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance to oversee the Social Investment Programmes.
The Green Chamber noted that since such idea contravenes the extant law which positions the implementing agency and programmes under the purview of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
It also called for the resumption of the implementation of the National Social Investment Programme in order to alleviate the current increasing hardship faced by Nigerians.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Wednesday by Hon. Billy Osawaru.
Moving the motion, the lawmaker said the enabling Act of the National Social Investment Programme Agency was enacted in 2023 to address the issue of poverty and hunger across the country.
He added that it was also enacted to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations including children, youth and women.
Osawaru pointed out that since January this year, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was suspended and placed under investigation while the Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator of National Social Investment Programme Agency was sacked, while the new Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator replaced.
He stressed that as a result of the above, the implementation of all forms of government intervention such as N- Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home Grown School Feeding Programme that are expected to ameliorate the suffering of people, were placed on hold, pending thorough review of the programme and investigation of the alleged misconduct in the management of the programme;
Osawaru expressed concern that halting the implementation of the programme particularly during this period of increasing hardship has the implication of heightening the challenges of the vulnerable population relying on its assistance and could lead to rise in poverty levels, social unrest and ultimately impacting negatively on the overall stability and development of the country;
He expressed worry about the recent cases of looting of warehouses and food trucks in many cities across the country as a result of increasing hunger and sufferings, which signals the need for immediate action to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians such as the resumption of all forms of Social Investment Programme.
Osawaru said the interim report of the 6-man probe panel appointed by President Bola Tinubu to investigate the allegations surrounding the embattled Minister has recommended the resumption of the programmme.
The lawmaker noted the alleged recommendation suggesting that a new steering committee board under the leadership of the Minister of Finance should henceforth oversee the social investment programmes was not only an anomaly but contravenes the extant law which situates the implementing agency and programmes under the purview of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
He observed that while there might be legislative actions to amend the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2023, up until the Act is completely amended, and enacted, the current status quo cannot be reviewed by mere executive action;
The House urged federal government to “expedite the completion of the investigation of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and to instigate further actions in the meantime, direct a serving Minister of State to oversee relevant approvals and implementation of the National Social Investment Programme so as to minimize the adverse implication of increasing hunger and sufferings experienced by vulnerable Nigerians relying on the programme.”