The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the whereabouts of more than N30bn said to have been recovered from the National Social Investment Programme Agency between 2024 and 2025.
The lawmakers took the decision on Tuesday after adopting a motion of urgent public importance moved by Saidu Abdullahi, who represents Bida, Gbako and Katcha Federal Constituency in Niger State.
NSIPA is the agency that handles major federal social programmes such as school feeding, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and grants for vulnerable groups.
President Bola Tinubu suspended NSIPA on January 8, 2024, to allow a full investigation into claims of fraud and irregularities in the agency. During the probe, several accounts were traced, frozen, and some funds recovered.
Abdullahi told the House that the recovered money included funds tied to programmes like TraderMoni, MarketMoni, FarmerMoni, and grants meant for poor households.
He said, “The investigation resulted in the tracing, freezing and recovery of substantial public funds belonging to the Agency from Deposit Money Banks and Payment Service Providers.”
He raised concern that the money, which he said is estimated to be over N30bn, has not been moved into NSIPA’s Treasury Single Account.
He said, “Credible sources have indicated that these recovered funds have not been remitted into NSIPA’s designated Treasury Single Account, thereby stalling programme implementation and leaving millions of intended beneficiaries without the support envisioned by the Federal Government.”
Abdullahi warned that the delay was harming efforts to revive the economy.
“We are deeply concerned that the prolonged non-release of these funds undermines the Renewed Hope Agenda by slowing down poverty alleviation efforts, weakening small-scale enterprises, worsening hardship in rural and urban communities, and eroding public trust in the government’s social protection commitments,” he said.
He also pointed out the unclear status of the recovered funds.
“We are also concerned that the continued uncertainty over the exact location, custodial status and administrative handling of the recovered funds poses fiscal risks and may disrupt programme timelines,” he said.
Although the suspension on NSIPA was lifted on January 21, 2025, Abdullahi noted that the agency has still not resumed full operations.
“We are disturbed that despite the presidential approval lifting the suspension, the Agency has been unable to resume full implementation of its programmes due to the non-availability of recovered funds,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, put the motion to a vote, and it was supported by all members.
The House resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to determine the full amount recovered during the 2024 to 2025 probe, identify who is currently holding the money, and find out why it has not been released.
The committee will also meet with the relevant agencies and get a clear plan from NSIPA on how the funds will be used once they are made available. It is expected to submit its report within four weeks.
NSIPA has faced strong scrutiny since 2024 after investigators from the EFCC and other security agencies uncovered alleged irregular payment channels, fund diversion, and the use of unapproved intermediaries in programmes like TraderMoni and the school feeding scheme.
There were also claims that data of beneficiaries was altered and that funds meant for the poor were kept in commercial banks instead of being moved into the Treasury Single Account.
Several officials were suspended during the probe, and although no detailed final report has been released to the public, the Federal Government confirmed that large sums were recovered.
Lawmakers say the latest investigation is necessary to ensure transparency and to restart social programmes that many Nigerians depend on.
