President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been commended for launching investigation to alleged fraud in the Social Investment Programme.
The President had earlier called for thorough investigation into allegations of gross financial misconduct involving the scheme.
In a mid-week statement signed by the Human, Environmental and Leadership Prevalent Center (HELP Center), the rights group said the President has chosen the best approach to public accountability.
Billions of funds meant for the poor are said to have been diverted by corrupt officials who ensured the end users were sidelined for personal gains of a few officials.
“We commend the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the investigation going on at the Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management especially the alleged corruption concerning the National Social Investment Program Agency” HELP Centre said in a statement signed by the
Executive Director of the organization, Azeez Tajudeen Jongo
The group recalled that the sole aim of the past administration to establish the ministry was to cater for the disaster victims and poorest of the poor households in Nigeria which means, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is a very critical and peculiar ministry unlike the others ministries.
The group said every amount of Naira budgeted for the ministry is for victimised Nigerians whether their challenges are caused by natural disaster or are man made.
It regreted that the level at which the NSIPA operates under the ministry is so disastrous and a direct opposite of the general public expectations.
“There is a need of step up approach to the means and manner by which the NSIPA operates. Some years a go, our organization with the support of HEDA Resource Center exposed atrocious activities embarked on by some staffs of the agency at the communities level, under the immediate past administration, but it was unfortunate that the corruption fought back and frustrated good intention of Mrs Maryam Uwais MFR who was then the Special Advisor to the then President Muhammadu Buhari on National Social Investment Program.”
The group said Uwais designed an open operational policy guided for the agency which administratively captured the genuine beneficiaries, reduced the cost of operation and cut off of resources mismanagement.
“The unfortunate current situation at the agency is a consequence of jettisoning and frustration of Mrs Uwais professional policy guide.
It is time now for President Bola Tinubu administration not only to investigate, suspend the corrupt appointees and staff but to also review the activities in the agency so as to drive home the good intention and attain his Renew Hope Agenda” the group said
