Coalition urges Tinubu to act on social investment panel’s recommendations

The Public Interest Initiative has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement recommendations made by the Wale Edun-led presidential panel on social investment programs. The panel, tasked with reviewing and re-engineering the framework for these initiatives, has proposed significant reforms aimed at restoring public confidence and ensuring accountability.

In a statement by its convener, Dr Mustapha Ahmadu, the coalition lauded the panel’s comprehensive review of the financial and policy architecture of social intervention programs. Dr Ahmadu highlighted the panel’s efforts to address longstanding inefficiencies and concerns over governance, which have eroded trust in these vital programs.

READ MORE: Inflation: 13m more Nigerians at risk of falling below poverty line in 2025, says report

Among the panel’s recommendations are digitising operations to improve financial management, strengthening national monitoring platforms in collaboration with security agencies, and expanding the National Social Register. The panel also urged a revision of the National Social Protection Policy and Programme framework, along with an amendment to the NSIPA Act. To ensure transparency, the panel proposed appointing external auditors for independent reviews of financial statements and transactions.

Dr Ahmadu stressed that swift implementation of these measures would help combat poverty, citing a PwC report forecasting that an additional 13 million Nigerians could fall below the poverty line by 2025 if urgent action is not taken.

“We call on the president to prioritise these recommendations and ensure transparent operations that will restore public confidence in the Tinubu administration’s commitment to poverty alleviation,” Dr Ahmadu said.

The coalition also criticised the leadership style of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, urging him to adopt a more inclusive approach. They emphasised the need for better collaboration with his junior minister and agency heads to enhance the effectiveness of programme management.

The coalition believes these reforms will not only benefit disadvantaged households across Nigeria but also strengthen public trust in the government’s social intervention efforts.