December 08, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has assured Nigerians of transparency and accountability in the implementation of its National Social Investment Programmes.
The assurance came amid report of alleged fraud in the payment system of its N-Power Programme.
THEWILL reported that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Wednesday, said Nigerian singer, D’banj, is in its custody over allegation of fraud.
Spokesperson for the anti-graft Commission, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, said D’Banj is being investigated over his alleged involvement in a fraud case associated with the N-Power Programme.
The N-Power Scheme, a component of the National Social Investment Programme, was established by President Muhammadu Buhari on 8th June, 2016, to address the issues of youth unemployment and empowerment and help increase social development.
The N-Power, among other social investment programmes of the Federal Government, are under the control of the The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
According to the Ministry, it has over the time involved other government MDA’s, Security Agencies and Civil Society Organisations in monitoring and compliance checks across the 36 states of the country and the FCT on its Social investment programmes including N-Power, National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).
Reacting to the report of investigation by the ICPC into fraudulent practices in the Payment system of its N-Power Scheme, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said it is aware of the development.
The Ministry, in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, said it involved the ICPC when it noticed sharp practices by some personnel of the Payment Service Provider (PSP) involved in the payment processes to beneficiaries.
While reiterating its support for ICPC to ensure proper investigation into the fraud, the Ministry said it has effected a thorough reinforcement of its systems to eliminate all anomalies and prevent similar occurences in the future.
The statement read in part: “The Ministry’s attention has been brought to recent publications regarding ongoing investigations, in relation to fraud allegations in the Programme. We wish to here state as follow:
“The Ministry has deployed a well-rounded mechanism for selection of eligible beneficiaries from across the country and this has been in place since the inception of the program. Working with our Service Provider, Program Beneficiaries are onboarded, trained and deployed to pre-selected Places of Primary Assignment.
“When it came to our notice that there may have been sharp practices by some personnel of the Payment Service Provider (PSP) involved in the payment processes to beneficiaries, the matter was immediately referred to ICPC for thorough investigation.
“We are aware that certain persons have consequently been invited for interrogation as part of the ongoing investigations.
“In the meantime, we have carried out thorough reinforcement of our systems to eliminate all anomalies and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“To this end, we are in close collaboration with ICPC to support the successful determination of the investigation.
“The public may wish to note that in a bid to ensure transparcncy and accountabilty in the implementation of N-Power and other National Social investment programmes namely the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), the Ministry has over time involved other government MDA’s, Security Agencies and Civil Society Organisations in monitoring and compliance checks across the 36 states of the country and the FCT.
“We want to assure all N-POWER beneficiaries of Federal Government’s continued commitment to the programme and the subsequent exit/off-boarding channels activated.
“All program beneficiaries should, therefore, continue to apply themselves to their utmost at their Places of Primary Assignment. All monthly stipends will continue to be paid in line with programme expectations.
“We call on members of the public to come forward with information on any irregularities noticed in the implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes through the following channels;
“Email: npowersupport@nsip.gov.ng. npowerinfo@nsip.gov.ng
“Phone: 0700 CALL NSIP, 070022556747 or WhatsApp 07030859183.”
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