Unfreeze NSIPA account for payment of N81bn stipends to N-Power beneficiaries — Reps to FG

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives asked the Federal Government to unfreeze the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) account for the payment of N81 billion stipends owed to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries.
This was contained in a Motion in the Green Chambers’ Order Paper for Thursday released by the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi.
It would be recalled that in January 2024, President Bola Tinubu suspended Halima Shehu, the national coordinator of NSIPA, over financial misappropriation.
It was reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), tracked and froze N30 billion of the N44 billion in NSIPA account.
During the period, Beta Edu was also suspended as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation over alleged disbursement of N585 million to a private account.
Meanwhile, Tinubu in October 2024 announced Nentawe Yilwatda as Edu replacement. Also, Tinubu appointed a new head for NSIPA.
In an update, the House of Representatives resolved that the Federal Government should unfreeze the NSIPA account within 72 hours to ensure the release of funds to N-Power beneficiaries.
According to the lawmakers, the funds are already captured in the 2023 and 2024 Appropriation Bills, which are expected to elapse by December 31, 2024.
“Deeply worried that as a result of the suspension of accounts of the NSIPA, the N-Power programme has been so negatively affected that 395,731 beneficiaries are owed outstanding stipends to the tune of N81,
315, 440, 000 (Eighty-One Billion, Three Hundred and Fifteen Million, Four Hundred and Forty Thousand
Naira)— a fund already captured under the 2023 and 2024 amended Appropriation Acts, which will lapse by the year ending 31st December, 2024.
“The House believes that restoring NSIPA’s account aligns with the President’s vision, ensuring that poverty alleviation efforts remain effective, efficient, and impactful, and that it is essential to act swiftly to resolve this issue. to maintain momentum towards the administration’s poverty eradication goals.
“The House resolves to urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to mandate the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy to ensure that all frozen accounts of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) are unfrozen within 72 hours to enable the smooth recommencement of all the programmes of NSIPA and ensure the release of funds to NSIPA for the payment of outstanding stipends owed to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries nationwide without further delay.”