EFCC Should Recover N33.75 Billion And Prosecute The Officials Who Stole It
Femi falana The Mohammmadu Buhari administration enacted the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2022 which transformed the NSIPA into a statutory agency. The Act provides National Social Investment Programme
The National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) has come under scrutiny for its handling of funds meant for vulnerable households. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should now recover the missing N33.75 billion and prosecute those responsible for the theft. Despite strict tracking measures and the syncing of beneficiary profiles with Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN), the Auditor-General for the Federation has found insufficient evidence to prove that the N33.75 billion in cash transfers reached the intended beneficiaries.
This revelation comes from the Auditor-General's 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
The EFCC should work together with the Auditor-General to ensure the recovery of the stolen funds and bring the culprits to justice. Public officers involved in the criminal diversion of these funds should be immediately arrested and prosecuted. President Bola Tinubu recently unveiled a $3.05 billion development package aimed at poverty reduction and human capital expansion.
However, concerns have been raised about the potential for public officials to misuse these funds, similar to past scandals. A proposed body of civil society organizations should be established to oversee the disbursement of these funds to the poor and vulnerable people in the country.
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