Don’t allow social investment programmes to die, group tells Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to act fast and save the social investment programmes that were halted at the peak of the crisis that bogged the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and some agencies under it.

Mohammed Sanusi, who spoke on behalf of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups, said the good intention of the programmes which is to assist the poor, empower the weak and reduce poverty in the country at a time of economic challenges should be sustained.

Recall that following recent scandals concerning the management of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) and its programmes, President Tinubu ordered the suspension of all programmes being overseen by the agency.

The president directed that all NSIPA-related activities, including distributions, events, payments, collaborations and registrations, be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation.

The action was taken days after the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.

Sanusi said instead of allowing the social investment programmes to remain suspended, President Tinubu should reform the federal government’s financial regulations and strengthen them to ensure fiscal responsibility.

“The public now understands clearly that the Federal Government Financial Regulations in Chapter 14 (1402.iii), which talks of advances, states clearly that for disbursement of funds for non-personal advances for projects/special programmes, the leader of the project/special programme shall be the accounting officer and shall approve all payments, while the accountant of an appropriate grade shall be attached to each project/ special programmes and have responsibility for the disbursement as well as retirement of non-personal advances.”

Sanusi also called on Tinubu to be magnanimous in recalling Beta Edu and any other employee(s) if not found wanting, thereby not falling into the trap of those desperately working hard to bring down his government.

“The suspension of the minister followed a well-coordinated week-long negative media campaign, coordinated by several known influencers,” he said.

He said poor Nigerians want the social investment programmes to continue.