The freezing of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency’s (NSIPA) accounts has sparked a heated debate, with major opposition parties pointing fingers at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly for what they describe as inadequate governance and misplaced priorities.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a motion urging the Federal Government to instruct the Honorable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, to unfreeze the accounts within 72 hours. The motion, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu alongside 20 other lawmakers, emphasized the agency’s crucial role in alleviating hunger and poverty among Nigerians.
The accounts were initially frozen by the Tinubu-led administration due to allegations of corruption within the agency, a move intended to pave the way for reforms. However, months of dormancy have left lawmakers frustrated, prompting their recent ultimatum.
Speaking to reporters, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Timothy Osadolor, dismissed the lawmakers’ directive as a mere distraction. “This is comic relief. Both the President and the National Assembly are failing to address the real issues. If corruption was the reason for freezing the accounts, where is the audit report, and what reforms have been implemented to prevent recurrence?” he queried.
Osadolor further accused the administration of playing politics with governance, leaving Nigerians to bear the brunt of their inefficiency. “Until there’s genuine accountability, this remains a farce,” he concluded.
Similarly, Ladipo Johnson, National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), opined that the House’s ultimatum was an attempt to nudge the presidency into action. “The lawmakers are essentially telling Tinubu to resolve the matter promptly. However, whether this leads to meaningful action remains uncertain,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Labour Party chieftain and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, expressed skepticism about the National Assembly’s ability to enforce its resolutions. “They expose societal ills but falter when it comes to execution. The presidency’s influence on the legislature is glaring, and this undermines any effort toward meaningful change,” he said.
The opposition’s criticisms reflect the mounting public frustration over governance lapses, with the frozen accounts becoming a symbol of broader inefficiencies. As the 72-hour ultimatum nears its deadline, all eyes remain on President Tinubu and the National Assembly to see whether rhetoric will translate into tangible action.
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