Senate: Putting NSIP Under Tinubu Won’t Stop Oversight

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate Committee on Special Duties has said the proposed movement of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) to the presidency would not stop the it from carrying out necessary oversight on the agency.

The agency is currently under the supervision of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

But the Senate had Tuesday passed for second reading, a bill seeking to amend NSIPA Act 2023. It was meant to transfer the agency directly under the supervision of the president.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Shehu, told journalists yesterday that his panel would carry out its oversight functions of the agency under the supervision of the President.

“If you look at the Order 96 of the Senate Rule, the jurisdiction of the Senate Special Duties Committees is clearly stated there, and the first is to oversight the Office of the President and the Presidency.

“So, transferring the agency to the Office of the President is still under the purview of the Special Duties. We will oversight the agency even if it is domiciled in the Villa,” Shehu told reporters after the inaugural meeting of his panel at the National Assembly.

According to him, “We are going to carry out our oversight function thoroughly. We will not leave any stone unturned. We will ensure that the change mantra of the president is achieved. All hands must be on deck to ensure that we achieved the desired results based on our committee.”

On the suspension of the N-power programme, which has rendered many Nigerians jobless, Shehu said, “We are yet to receive a report on the suspension of the N-power. We will look at the enabling act, and the bill we are presently working on now. Where the suspension is not in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, we will bring it back.

“If there is the need for investigation, we will do it. Order 96 (55) started clearly that the first place of  oversight is the president and others.

“Bringing the social investment programme to the office of the president will not stop us from carrying out our oversight function. We will still oversee the social investment programme.

“The Bill that was laid before the National Assembly, no clause give anyone power, not even the president.”