Reps to probe N30bn recovered funds for social investment programmes

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the whereabouts and custodial status of more than ₦30 billion reportedly recovered during the Federal Government–ordered probe of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

The House expressed concerns that the recovered funds have not been remitted into NSIPA’s designated Treasury Single Account (TSA), thereby stalling programme implementation and leaving millions of intended beneficiaries without the social and economic support.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Saidu Abdullahi, Lawmaker representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency during plenary on Tuesday

The NSIPA is the statutory institution responsible for implementing the federal government’s flagship social protection programmes, including the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), National Home Grown School Feeding Program,(NHGSFP) and the Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG).

On 8th January 2024, President Bola Tinubu suspended NSIPA operations for six weeks to enable a comprehensive investigation into alleged financial infractions by relevant security and anti-corruption agencies.

The investigation resulted in the tracing, freezing, and recovery of over N30 billion public funds belonging to the Agency from Deposit Money Banks and Payment Service Providers, including funds appropriated for Trader Moni, MarketMoni, FarmerMoni, and Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

Abdullahi, exoressed concerns that the prolonged non-release of these funds is slowing down poverty alleviation efforts, weakening small-scale enterprises, exacerbating hardship in rural and urban communities, delaying local economic stimulation, and eroding public trust in the government’s social protection commitments.

He regretted that despite the Presidential approval lifting the suspension on NSIPA operations on 21st January 2025, the Agency has been unable to resume full implementation of its programmes allegedly due to the non-availability of recovered funds expected to have been released thereby exposing millions of Nigerians to prolonged socioeconomic distress.

Adopting the motion, the House resolved to Constitute an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the total funds recovered from NSIPA during the 2024–2025 investigations, determine their current status and custodianship, and identify any issues delaying their release to the appropriate Agencies with the aim of facilitating the prompt recommencement of the social investment programmes.

The House also mandated the yet to be set up ad-hoc Committee to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.