Hardship: CSOs urge FG to restore social investment programmes

In the wake of mounting economic challenges gripping in Nigeria, the Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance (CCSGG) has called for the immediate lifting of the suspension on the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

According to the coalition, taking this action would alleviate the hunger and poverty affecting Nigeria's most vulnerable populations.

During a press conference held in Abuja on Monday, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, the National Coordinator of the coalition, emphasized the critical need for intervention.

He highlighted that the six-week suspension on the agency, which serves as a lifeline for vulnerable groups including children, youths, and women, has expired, leaving many Nigerians yearning for its reinstatement.

He stated, "Our nation's economy is battered by turbulence, impacting the daily lives of our citizens. The suspension of the NSIPA's crucial programs has worsened the hardships faced by our people.

"The six-week suspension has ended, and now is the time to act swiftly to prevent further suffering among vulnerable groups.

"While we have shown patience and patriotism in the face of these economic challenges, there is still hope in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration's renewed agenda if properly guided to address the realities on the ground."

The NSIPA operates under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and includes essential initiatives such as N-Power, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), and the Home Grown School Feeding Programmes (HGSF). 

These programmes are meant to offer relief and support to the nation's most affected demographics during economic downturns.

The CSOs criticized the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, for attempting to transfer the NSIPA and its programs to the finance ministry based on information from a leaked memo.

"This would be a grave mistake as the finance ministry has not shown the capacity to efficiently manage these programs," Comrade Jacob said.

The CSOs painted a picture of an economy mired in complexity, with insecurity and power supply issues threatening to plunge the nation into a deeper crisis.

Addressing other aspects of the economic crisis, the group highlighted the sharp rise in insecurity, linking it to poverty and hunger.

Jacob said, "Nigeria's security challenges are escalating, with poverty and hunger serving as catalysts for various forms of insecurity.

"In achieving a secure nation-state, the importance of providing basic needs for Nigerians in the short term cannot be underestimated. Additionally, the indispensable role of mass education becomes more necessary than ever."

Proposing concrete steps, the coalition urged the federal government to intensify non-kinetic methods of engagement in combating insecurity, expand recruitment for various security agencies, and develop plans for establishing state police in accordance with global best practices.

On the issue of power supply, Comrade Jacob stressed the negative impact of inadequate electricity on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), urging the government to ensure fair tariffs and reliable power distribution to stimulate economic growth.

"Power supply in Nigeria is ebbing and becoming inadequate to propel the needed jump-start for economic growth. 

"Many small and medium-scale enterprises are being affected by the unavailability of power supply.

"As we navigate these difficult times, we call upon all Nigerians to maintain their calm and to actively engage with the government. It is their duty to deliver the good governance we earnestly seek," Comrade Jacob added.