The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the federal government to unfreeze all accounts of the National Social Investment Programme Agency within 72 hours to allow its programmes to resume smoothly.
This resolution followed a motion sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, along with 21 other lawmakers. The House emphasized that unfreezing the accounts would allow the release of funds needed to pay outstanding stipends to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries across the country without further delay.
The lawmakers also urged President Bola Tinubu to direct relevant ministries to address administrative issues that have been affecting the operation of NSIPA’s programmes.
The resolution will now be sent to the Senate for approval.
Kalu explained that NSIPA was created under the National Social Investment Programme Agency (Establishment) Act, 2023, to help empower unemployed individuals, vulnerable widows, orphans, children, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable senior citizens.
The agency oversees key social intervention programmes, such as the Grant for Vulnerable Groups, N-Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Conditional Cash Transfers, and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
Kalu further stated that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration emphasizes the importance of NSIPA’s role in alleviating economic hardship for the poor and vulnerable.
He pointed out that despite the significance of these programmes for poverty reduction, youth empowerment, and economic inclusion, the agency’s work has been hindered by administrative challenges, a lack of funding, and the freezing of its accounts. He added that financial mismanagement by previous programme handlers led to the suspension of NSIPA’s activities and the freezing of its accounts, which prompted investigations by anti-corruption and security agencies.
The Deputy Speaker expressed concern that the continued freezing of NSIPA’s accounts contradicts President Tinubu’s commitment to poverty alleviation. He said this action has halted essential social welfare programmes, such as cash transfers, small business grants, and school feeding initiatives, undermining efforts to empower the economy, delay progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and erode public trust.
Kalu also raised concerns about the impact of the freeze on the N-Power programme, noting that 395,731 beneficiaries are still owed N81,315,440,000 in stipends. This amount is included in the 2023 and 2024 amended Appropriation Acts, which will expire at the end of December 2024.
He urged that restoring NSIPA’s accounts would support the President’s vision and ensure that poverty alleviation programmes remain effective, efficient, and impactful. Kalu stressed the need for urgent action to resolve the issue and maintain progress toward the administration’s poverty eradication goals.
