After the suspension of the four programs under the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) for six weeks by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, he has approved the formation of a Special Presidential Panel on the programs. The panel will be led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.
The Special Presidential Panel is immediately tasked with conducting a comprehensive review and audit of the existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the social investment programs. The goal is to implement a total re-engineering of the financial architecture of the programs, with detailed modifications to the procedures guiding their implementation moving forward.
According to a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, on Saturday, the Special Presidential Panel is comprised of ministers representing strategic sectors and will ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the reform effort. The six members include:
- Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun (Chairman)
- Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate (Member)
- Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu (Member)
- Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris (Member)
- Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani (Member)
- Minister of State for Youth (Member)
President Tinubu anticipates that this Special Presidential Panel will restore lost public confidence in these vital programs over the years. It aims to usher in a new era of operation based on open and accountable governance frameworks that will be impervious to abuse and incompetence, exclusively benefiting disadvantaged households across the nation, added the presidential media aide.
