The House of Representatives has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to direct the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to unfreeze all accounts belonging to the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).
The resolution was passed during Tuesday’s plenary session.
The motion, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 20 other lawmakers, called for immediate action to allow the agency to resume its operations smoothly.
NSIPA oversees key government initiatives, including N-Power, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), and the Home-Grown School Feeding Initiative.
The House insisted that unfreezing the accounts is necessary to restart these poverty alleviation programmes.
Lawmakers also demanded the release of funds to pay outstanding stipends owed to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries across the country.
They urged the president to ensure payments are made “without further delay.”
Tinubu’s Freeze Sparks Concern
The NSIPA has been in the spotlight since early 2024 when Tinubu ordered an overhaul of its leadership.
In January, Tinubu suspended Halima Shehu, then CEO of NSIPA, over allegations of financial misconduct.
This was followed by the suspension of Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, whose ministry oversaw NSIPA.
The agency’s programmes were also put on hold as part of an investigation into alleged mismanagement.
In March, the House of Representatives called for the immediate resumption of the suspended programmes.
However, the accounts of NSIPA remain frozen, leading to growing frustration among lawmakers and beneficiaries.
Lawmakers Raise Alarm
While presenting the motion, Deputy Speaker Kalu emphasized the critical role of NSIPA in reducing poverty, empowering youths, and promoting economic inclusion.
He lamented that administrative hurdles and frozen accounts have paralyzed the agency’s operations.
“The smooth operations of the programmes and the fulfilment of the mandate of NSIPA are hindered due to the suspension of accounts and other administrative bottlenecks,” Kalu said.
He noted that despite Tinubu’s reconstitution of NSIPA’s management, the issues persist.
Kalu warned that this delay contradicts Tinubu’s campaign promises on poverty alleviation and erodes public trust.
“The frozen accounts undermine the president’s poverty alleviation mandate and create administrative paralysis,” he stated.
N-Power Beneficiaries Hit Hard
Kalu highlighted the plight of N-Power beneficiaries, who have gone months without payment.
He revealed that 395,731 beneficiaries are owed a total of N81.3 billion.
This amount, he explained, has already been captured in the 2023 and 2024 amended Appropriation Acts.
“The funds will lapse by December 31, 2024, if not utilized,” Kalu warned.
He called for swift action to restore NSIPA’s functionality and ensure beneficiaries receive their stipends.
A Call for Justice
Kalu stressed that unfreezing the accounts aligns with Tinubu’s vision of eradicating poverty.
He urged the government to act swiftly to maintain momentum toward achieving its poverty eradication goals.
“Restoring NSIPA’s accounts is essential for effective, efficient, and impactful poverty alleviation efforts,” he said.
The House also called for the reopening of all NSIPA warehouses nationwide.
