The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy, Wale Edun, has caused controversy by relocating the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Ministry of Finance. According to reports, a panel set up by the minister recommended resuming the programmes to help alleviate the suffering of poor and vulnerable Nigerians, with a new board led by Edun overseeing them.

The panel suggested convening a steering committee or board under Edun’s leadership to coordinate the programmes, and reviewing and amending the NSIPA act to determine the future of the NSIPA. However, the move is causing ripples among officials of the Tinubu-led administration, who fear significant changes could occur that involve dissolving the current board, removing state coordinators, and appointing new leaders.

One government official expressed concern, stating that the social investment programmes are currently domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and implemented by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) by law. The executive bill sent by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to the National Assembly placed the NSIPA in charge of these programmes in the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation. To amend the principal act, a bill would have to be sponsored. Therefore, anything outside of that is illegal and against the laws setting up the NSIPA.