Reps to FG: Expedite Betta Edu probe, resume social investment programmes

The house of representatives has asked the federal government to resume the implementation of the suspended social investment programmes.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during the plenary session on Wednesday after the adoption of a motion sponsored by Billy Osawaru, a lawmaker from Edo state.

The social investment programmes – N-Power programme, conditional cash transfer programme, government enterprise and empowerment programme, and home grown school feeding programme — were put on hold after President Bola Tinubu suspended Betta Edu as the humanitarian affairs minister.

Edu was suspended on January 8, over allegations of financial impropriety in the ministry.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has since been investigating the suspended minister and the ministry.

On February 20, TheCable contacted the presidency and EFCC to provide an update on the probe, but both declined comments.

Early this month, the presidential panel on social investment programmes recommended the removal of intervention initiatives from the purview of the humanitarian affairs ministry

The panel led by Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, recommended to Tinubu to transfer the programmes to his ministry.

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 MOTION

While moving the motion, Osawaru said halting the implementation of the programme during “this period of increasing hardship” is “heightening” the challenges of the vulnerable population relying on its assistance and could lead to a rise in poverty levels, social unrest and “ultimately impacting negatively on the overall stability and development” of the country.

The legislator told his colleagues that the cases of looting of warehouses and food trucks in many cities across the country as a result of increasing hunger and suffering, “signals the need for immediate action” to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians such as the resumption of all form of social investment programmes.

‘IT’S ILLEGAL TO TRANSFER NSIP TO FINANCE MINISTRY’

The lawmaker said the recommendation to move the social investment programmes to the ministry of finance is against the law.

“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 is 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 said.

“While there may 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 motion, which was not debated, was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.

Following the adoption of the motion, the house asked the federal government to “expedite the completion of the investigation” of the suspended minister.

The house also resolved that the federal government should in the meantime direct a serving minister of state to oversee relevant approvals and implementation of the social investment programmes to “minimise the adverse implication of increasing hunger and sufferings experienced by vulnerable Nigerians relying on the programme”.

The house also asked the federal government to “place on hold” the planned idea to move the social investment programmes to the finance ministry.