Edu, others fate on the line, as presidential panel reviews NSIPA’s regulations

…..The Presidency yesterday announced the setting up of a Special Presidential Panel to audit financial dealings of the suspended schemes administered by the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).

The constitution of the panel, according to President Bola Tinubu‘s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, was in a bid to achieve a thorough house cleaning in NSIPA.

…..Tinubu had on Friday directed the suspension of the four programmes for an initial four weeks, following various allegations of sleaze against officials in the agency.

Ngelale said yesterday that the panel, consisting of six members, all ministers of strategic sectors, will be chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun.

The panel, among other tasks, will……undertake a comprehensive review and audit of existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the four social investment programmes under NSIPA.

The SA said: “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:

“Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance – Chairman; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare – Member; Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning – Member; Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation – Member; Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy – Member; and 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.”