In a move to ensure proper investigation over alleged misappropriation of public funds, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday, set up a special panel to probe the National Social Investment Programmes.
The Informant247 had earlier reported that the president had ordered the suspension of all administered programmes by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
It would be recalled that President Tinubu had approved the immediate suspension of Dr Betta Edu, the country’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, over alleged N585m fraud.
In a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Tinubu cited a commitment to “the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability” as the basis for the decision.
Meanwhile, Ajuri Ngelale, the Presidential spokesman, while announcing in a statement on Saturday evening, said the president tasked the panel headed by Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, to carry out a thorough audit of the programmes, which he had earlier suspended.
“Sequel to President Bola Tinubu’s six-week suspension of the four (4) programmes under the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA), President Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Special Presidential Panel, which will be led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.”
“This Special Presidential Panel is tasked with immediately undertaking a comprehensive review and audit of existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the social investment programmes with a view to implementing a total re-engineering of the financial architecture of the programmes with detailed modification to procedures guiding the programmes’ implementation moving forward.
“The Special Presidential Panel, which is comprised of ministers representing strategic sectors and will ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the reform effort, is made up of the following members:
(1) Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance – Chairman
(2) Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare – Member
(3) Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning – Member
(4) Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation – Member
(5) Honourable Minister of Communicatons, Innovation and Digital Economy – Member
(6) Honourable Minister of State for Youth – Member
“President Tinubu anticipates that this Special Presidential Panel will validate the confidence reposed in it by winning back all lost public confidence in these vital programmes over the years by ushering in a new era of operation based on open and accountable governance frameworks that will prove impervious to abuse and incompetence for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households across our nation.”
