Allegations of SIP Funds Misappropriation Spark Calls for Probe into Buhari Administration

Allegations of massive fraud within the operations of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation have ignited calls for President Bola Tinubu to launch a thorough investigation into the administration of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Established in 2016, NSIPA, a key agency under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was initiated by Buhari to drive the National Social Investments Programmes (NSIP) aimed at addressing poverty and hunger in Nigeria.

However, concerns have been raised by various Nigerians, including civil society organizations and political activists, asserting that these institutions have become synonymous with corruption.

Recent actions by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) include the detention and questioning of the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and the suspended NSIPA National Coordinator, Halima Shehu, over allegations of corruption involving N37.1 billion in social intervention funds.

President Tinubu has responded by suspending the chief executives of both institutions, Betta Edu and Halima Shehu, amid allegations of financial misconduct and fraud. Additionally, all four NSIPA programmes—N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer, Government Enterprise and Empowerment, and Home Grown School Feeding—have been temporarily halted.

While many commend Tinubu for taking swift action, there are growing calls for him to extend the probe to the broader Buhari administration. Various figures from civil society organizations emphasize the need to address corruption issues that have marred the operations of NSIPA and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Notably, some argue that the very establishment of the Ministry may have been unnecessary, with existing agencies capable of handling similar mandates. Questions surrounding the effectiveness and legitimacy of the Ministry’s actions are highlighted, adding weight to the demand for a comprehensive investigation into Buhari’s government.

However, skeptics point out the challenges of a sitting president probing his predecessor, citing an unwritten rule in Nigerian politics where such inquiries rarely take place. Despite calls for accountability, the likelihood of a formal probe into the Buhari administration by President Tinubu remains uncertain.