In order to pay 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries N81 billion in unpaid stipends, the Nigerian House of Representatives requested that the Federal Government unfreeze the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) account.
Akin Rotimi, the House spokesperson, included this in a motion in the Green Chambers’ Order Paper for Thursday. According to the DAILY POST, President Bola Tinubu terminated NSIPA national coordinator Halima Shehu in January 2024 for embezzlement.
According to reports, N30 billion of the N44 billion in NSIPA accounts were tracked down and frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC. Because of the purported transfer of N585 million to a private account, Beta Edu was also suspended during this time as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Meanwhile, Tinubu in October 2024 announced Nentawe Yilwatda as Edu replacement. Also, Tinubu appointed a new head for NSIPA.
In an update, the House of Representatives resolved that the Federal Government should unfreeze the NSIPA account within 72 hours to ensure the release of funds to N-Power beneficiaries.
According to the lawmakers, the funds are already captured in the 2023 and 2024 Appropriation Bills, which are expected to elapse by December 31, 2024.
“Deeply worried that as a result of the suspension of accounts of the NSIPA, the N-Power programme has been so negatively affected that 395,731 beneficiaries are owed outstanding stipends to the tune of N81,
315, 440, 000 (Eighty-One Billion, Three Hundred and Fifteen Million, Four Hundred and Forty Thousand
Naira)— a fund already captured under the 2023 and 2024 amended Appropriation Acts, which will lapse by the year ending 31st December, 2024.
In order to ensure that efforts to alleviate poverty continue to be effective, efficient, and impactful, the House feels that reinstating NSIPA’s account is in line with the President’s agenda.
It also believes that this matter must be resolved quickly. should keep moving forward with the administration’s plans to eradicate poverty.
“In order to facilitate the seamless resumption of all NSIPA programs and guarantee the prompt release of funds to NSIPA for the payment of outstanding stipends owed to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries nationwide, the House resolves to urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to direct the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy to ensure that all frozen accounts of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) are unfrozen within 72 hours.”
