The House of Representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to unfreeze all bank accounts of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA). The decision, made on Tuesday, comes with a 72-hour deadline for the accounts to be restored.
This resolution followed a motion brought before the House by the deputy speaker, accompanied by 20 other lawmakers. The lawmakers expressed serious concern over the negative impact the account freeze has had on the agency’s operations.
The NSIPA is a key agency responsible for implementing vital programs aimed at reducing poverty, promoting youth empowerment, and fostering economic inclusivity in Nigeria. However, lawmakers highlighted that the agency’s ability to carry out its duties has been severely affected by the freezing of its accounts, administrative hurdles, and lack of sufficient funding.
The issue began when President Tinubu ordered the suspension of NSIPA’s activities after allegations of financial mismanagement by those in charge of the agency’s programs. As a result, the agency’s accounts were frozen, which disrupted its ability to continue its work effectively.
Lawmakers emphasized the importance of restoring the agency’s funding so it can resume its initiatives aimed at uplifting vulnerable Nigerians. “We urge the president to intervene and ensure that these essential programs are not further delayed,” said one of the lawmakers involved in the motion.
