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Senate moves to return control of National Social Investment Programme to Presidency
A bill seeking to transfer the control and supervision of programmes under the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Presidency has passed second reading at the Senate.
The bill titled “A bill for an act to amend the Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2023 and for other matters connected therewith, 2023 (SB.163),” was sponsored by Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele.
The programmes under the NSIP are the N-Power , the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).
The NSIP was created in 2016 by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari while the National Social Programme Agency Act was enacted this year to address socio-economic inequalities and alleviate poverty among Nigerians.
The programme started under the control of the office of the then Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, but was transferred to the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development during Mr Buhari’s second term.
The former president had hinted during his 2019 Independence Day broadcast that the NSIP would be moved from the vice president’s office.
The bill, seeking direct supervision of the NSIP programmes to the office of the President of the Federation, was read the first time in the Senate on Tuesday and was transferred to the Committee of the Whole.
Leading debate on the bill, Mr Bamidele (APC, Ekiti) said the amendment was to support the renewed hope mantra of President Bola Tinubu in ensuring that Social Investment Programmes are standard, transparent, effective and accountable in the discharge of constitutional duties.
He also said the reason for amendment was to fulfill Section 17 (3) of the Nigerian Constitution which provided that the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that all citizens, without discrimination, have the opportunity of securing adequate means of livelihood and ensuring provision is made for public assistance in deserving cases or conditions of need among others.
“This Bill seeks to amend Sections 9 (3); 14(1); 21(1); 22(1), 26(1) and 33 of the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act by transferring the Agency from the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to the Presidency under the direct supervision of the President C-in-C.
“This amendment is as a result of the commitment of the renewed hope mantra President Bola Tinubu in ensuring that Social Investment Programme are standard, transparent, effective and accountable structure of delivery, adequate coordination and synergy amongst key government agencies as well as fulfilment of Section 17 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provided that the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that all citizens, without discrimination, have the opportunity of securing adequate means of livelihood and ensuring provision is made for public assistance in deserving cases or conditions of need among others.
“With this amendment, a wide range of sustainable development goals (SDGS) including poverty reduction, education, health, social inclusion and empowerment can be achieved through the NSIPA and countries the world over have recognised and deployed similar social support programmes as an effective strategy for poverty reduction, social development and economic growth.”
The Senate Leader therefore urged his colleagues to support and pass the bill, stressing that it would reduce poverty in Nigeria.
“Mr President, my respected colleagues, the passage of this bill will ensure continuity and sustainability of NSIP as a reliable tool to solve poverty problems in Nigeria and also serves as an enduring legacy of this administration. I therefore recommend the bill for second reading.”
When the bill was set for debate, majority of the senators spoke in support of it.
They also said the bill should pass second reading.
The immediate past Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who supported passage of the bill advised that after passing the amendment, relevant committees of the National Assembly must actively participate in the NSIP programmes in order to ensure that all the identified vulnerable receive support from the government.
“We are talking about social inclusion. Money was distributed in cash and that is not what we are expected to continue to do. After passing the amendment, we must participate fully, from all relevant committees to ensure that those that needed the support, the vulnerable are satisfied,” he said.
A middle-aged man has been arrested over alleged involvement in gruesome murder of his employer, a Pentecostal Bishop of End-reconciliation Ministry Asaba, Delta State.
The suspect was said to have also attempted to dispose of the deceased Toyota Prado Jeep in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State before his arrest.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday while briefing newsmen, Commissioner of Police, State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu said the suspect was arrested together with his accomplice alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
The vehicle of the murdered Bishop
He said the stolen vehicle was also recovered from the suspects during the operation.
According to Orutugu, “The breakthrough followed a swift intelligence-led operation by Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect, who served as the Bishop’s driver and domestic staff, allegedly conspired with yet-to-be-identified criminal elements to murder the cleric before fleeing with the victim’s Prado Jeep to Anambra State for sale.
“Police Operatives, acting on credible information, tracked and intercepted the suspects in Nkpor, successfully recovered the stolen vehicle, and took them into custody for further interrogation.”
According to CP, investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
He advised residents to exercise due diligence in the recruitment and management of domestic staff, drivers, and other household employees.
Orutugu also urged members of the public to properly profile and verify the identities of persons employed in their homes and establishments, while also remaining vigilant to suspicious behaviours and activities.
“We assure the public that the Command remains committed to proactive policing, intelligence-driven operations, and collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property across the State.
While speaking to newsmen, the bishop’s driver said, “immediately we arrived home and my boss asked me to open the gate, I didn’t know that some people were trailing behind us.
“One of them rushed me, ordered me to lie down and marched my head and hit it with the gun. They went inside and met my master.
“They threatened to kill me if I raise alarm or call the police. They asked me to contact someone from Onitsha who will buy the vehicle. The buyers came this morning and took the vehicle.”
A personal driver of a Pentecostal bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry in Asaba, Delta State, has been arrested for allegedly killing his employer and fleeing with his vehicle, a Toyota Prado Jeep.
The driver, whose identity has yet to be disclosed due to ongoing investigations, was arrested alongside another suspect in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, while attempting to sell the vehicle.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Ikioye Orutugu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Awka, on Wednesday, adding that the suspect murdered the cleric before fleeing with his vehicle to Anambra to sell.
Orutugu said the arrest followed a swift intelligence-led operation by operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
He said the driver conspired with some criminal elements still at large, to kill his employer, adding that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
He said, “The operatives of the Anambra State Police Command arrested a domestic staff member allegedly involved in the gruesome murder of his employer, a Pentecostal Bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry in Asaba, Delta State, and the subsequent attempt to dispose of the victim’s Toyota Prado Jeep in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“The breakthrough followed a swift intelligence-led operation by Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect, who served as the Bishop’s driver and domestic staff, allegedly conspired with yet-to-be-identified criminal elements to murder the cleric before fleeing with the victim’s Prado Jeep to Anambra State for sale.
“Police operatives, acting on credible information, tracked and intercepted the suspects in Nkpor, successfully recovered the stolen vehicle, and took them into custody for further interrogation.”
The CP stated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
Orutugu advised the public to exercise due diligence in the recruitment and management of domestic staff, drivers, and other household employees.
He urged members of the public to properly profile and verify the identities of persons employed in their homes and establishments, while also remaining vigilant to suspicious behaviours and activities.
“We assured the public that the Command remains committed to proactive policing, intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property across the State,” the CP added. (The PUNCH)
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering offences.
A source within the anti-graft agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed on Wednesday that Abdullahi was arrested in Abuja and is currently in the custody of the commission.
According to the source, the alleged fraud involves funds estimated at N500bn.
“We have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, for money laundering offences. He was arrested and is currently in our custody. The money Is to the tune of N500bn,” the official said.
Efforts to get confirmation from the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
President Bola Tinubu had on October 24, 2023 appointed Abdullahi as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria.
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