Senate debunks allegation that Tinubu is behind bill seeking transfer of NSIP to Presidency

The senate on Wednesday debunked insinuations that President Bola Tinubu sponsored a bill seeking to transfer the control and supervision of programmes under the National Social Investment Programs (NSIP) from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Presidency
Chairman of the senate Committee on Special duties, Sen. Shehu Kaka (APC-Borno) gave the indication at the inaugural meeting of the committee on Wednesday in Abuja.
Speaking to a poser whether the President had a special interest in the bill, he said

“For now, the bill that was laid before the national assembly has no clause that contained any interest from the government.
“We had clause to cause consideration and we did not see any where the name of Tinubu or the presidency was mentioned, so I can assure you if there is anything it will be reflected in that bill. It’s just a hearsay.
On the suspension of the NSIP programes he said,
“For now, I’m yet to receive the official briefing on the suspension and the substitution of a new programme. I don’t want to comment on that but as a lawmaker saddled with the responsibility of this committee, I will study the enabling law that brought N-power as well as the bill that is before us that reading.

“If there is no overlap and it is out, the suspension was in the best interest of Nigerians, I will allow it go. But where the suspension is not in the best interest of Nigerians, you will see me shouting on the floor that we should bring it back.
On whether they will inveatigate the many controversies and allegations of mismanagement od the former program, he said,
“I will not comment whether we are going to investigate or not until after receiving briefs from the relevant MDAs.
On whether after the
amendment to the Act. His committee will oversight the Presidency, he said bringing that agency out and transferring to the presidency is under the purview of special Duties committee. “We are going to oversight that agency.”
He said the committee will come up with some interventions to tackle the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country.

Kaka while noting the importance of the committee and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, said that they would ensure that Nigerians living IDPs get succour.

“We are going to ensure no stone is left unturned, we are going to carry out oversight functions, we are going to engage and conduct public hearing on the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

“We will make sure the renewed hope mantra of the president succeeds.

“We are going to checkmate what the MDAs are doing vis a vis with the aim of enlightening Nigerians to ensure the right thing is done All hands must be on deck to ensure we achieve the desired result based on what we ascribe to and what the mandate of the committee is.

While contributing Sen. Fadahunsi (PDP-Osun) said that efforts must be intensified to resettle the displaced persons.

On his part, Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno) said that the move by the Senate to transfer the National Social Investment Programme to the Presidency underscored the work of the committee.

“All hands must be on deck to oversight the Office of the President.”