President Tinubu Establishes Panel To Reform Social Investment

President Bola Tinubu has given the green light for the creation of a Special Presidential Panel (SPP) aimed at revamping the nation's Social Investment Programs. The SPP will be spearheaded by Mr. Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance.

The decision to establish the SPP follows President Tinubu's suspension of all administered Social Investment Programs, including the school-feeding initiative, within the National Social Investment Programme Agency. This suspension, announced in a statement released by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged malfeasance in the management of the agency and its programs.

President Tinubu has tasked the Edun-led Panel with conducting an immediate and comprehensive review and audit of the financial frameworks and policy guidelines governing the social investment programs. The goal, according to the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, is to implement a total re-engineering of the financial architecture with detailed modifications to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of the programs.

The SPP, featuring ministers representing strategic sectors, is chaired by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun. The members include the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani, and the Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande.

President Tinubu expressed optimism that the Panel will restore lost public confidence in these vital programs, ushering in a new era of operation based on open and accountable governance frameworks. He emphasized the need for frameworks that are impervious to abuse and incompetence, ultimately benefiting disadvantaged households across the nation.