Femi Falana Demands Immediate Transfer of Recovered Funds to National Social Investment Programme
Prominent human rights advocate and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to promptly release N32.7 billion and $445,000, recently recovered from officials within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, to the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
Background on Fund Recovery and Presidential Approval
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 24, 2025, representing the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), which he leads, Falana highlighted that President Bola Tinubu had authorized the allocation of N32.7 billion earlier this year for critical National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) projects. These initiatives encompass school feeding schemes, the N-Power employment program, conditional cash transfers, and support for micro-enterprises through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).
EFCC’s Role and Current Status of Recovered Assets
Falana emphasized that the EFCC has successfully traced and retrieved the full amount of N32.7 billion alongside $445,000 from corrupt actors within the Ministry. Despite this achievement, the funds have yet to be redirected to NSIPA, which contradicts the EFCC’s stated policy of returning recovered assets to their intended social welfare purposes.
Call for Enhanced Recovery Efforts and Increased Social Investment
While commending the EFCC’s efforts, Falana urged the commission to intensify its pursuit of an additional N20 billion still missing from the social investment funds. He stressed the urgency of transferring the recovered monies to NSIPA to support over 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty.
Furthermore, Falana appealed to all tiers of government to boost financial commitments to the NSIP, citing recent robust revenue inflows as a viable opportunity. He referenced the Federation Account Allocation Committee’s (FAAC) disbursement of N2.001 trillion in July 2025, up from N1.8 trillion in June, underscoring the government’s capacity to fund social protection programs adequately.
Advocacy for Genuine Commitment to Social Welfare
“It is imperative that governments move beyond mere rhetoric and make substantial investments in social safety nets,” Falana asserted. “Allocating adequate resources to these programs is essential to alleviating widespread poverty and hardship.”
Context: Transparency and Accountability in Nigeria’s Social Welfare Sector
Falana’s statements arrive amid mounting demands for greater transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s social welfare initiatives, especially following a series of corruption scandals involving funds earmarked for vulnerable populations. His call highlights the critical need for safeguarding social investment funds to ensure they reach intended beneficiaries.
0 Comments