It’s been over a year since the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) was suspended in the second week of January 2024. Yet, conversations around the programme have faded from public discourse—once again, there is zero accountability. 

The suspension of the NSIP came in the wake of the suspension of the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, who was accused of misappropriating or transferring funds meant for the poverty alleviation. 

But one thing we must all acknowledge is that this is a programme that was already operating under questionable management. More importantly, it was designed to support the deprived, the less privileged, and those in desperate need—over 70% of the population, particularly the youth. And now, a year later, it has simply vanished from public discourse. 

History has it, just as my very recent research confirms same that since Nigeria’s independence, numerous social programmes have been introduced, only to die a natural death. Is the NSIP another victim of this cycle? It successfully ran through a full administration of Muhammadu Buhari whose government initiated and launched the programme in 2016 and surviving up to 2024, before being systematically scrapped. Even as I write this, the official NSIP website has gone offline months after the suspension. No discussions, no updates, no explanations. 

Is this yet another failed social intervention programme? Another abandoned attempt to reach the poor—especially now, when inflation is at its peak, and survival is becoming increasingly difficult?  

For those unfamiliar with the NSIP, it was an umbrella programme encompassing multiple social intervention initiatives: TraderMoni – targeted at small-scale traders; MarketMoni – aimed at market women; FarmerMoni – designed to support farmers. 

These programs were not just to boost the economy, but also to provide direct financial assistance to vulnerable groups in society. 

Beyond financial aid, the NSIP also included the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, which provided meals for children whose parents could not afford to feed them. Additionally, N-Power was introduced to help young graduates and corps members transition into employment amid Nigeria’s rising unemployment crisis. 

But now, what has happened to all of this? Zero conversation since the suspension of leadership. This is deeply concerning and cannot be ignored. We must not let it fade into obscurity like so many other well-intended but ultimately abandoned programmes. 

The Fate of the Conditional Cash Transfer 

The last component of the NSIP, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), was widely alleged to have been abused, with claims of partisan favouritism in its distribution. This scheme was instituted specifically for the most disadvantaged people in society, but it has also been swept away quietly. 

Initially, the government announced a six-week suspension of the CCT due to operational gaps, faulty payments, and fiscal mismanagement. However, instead of reforms or improvements, the programme has now been completely shut down, without substantial explanation. 

This then raises serious concern of about transparency and accountability on the management of public funds in the country. The CCT was, in part, financed by Sani Abacha loot, and meant to help and provide succour to venerable Nigerians. Given the programme’s significance, the government, its agencies, and every individual involved owe the public explanations. How was this fund spent? Where did it go? 

Now is the time for Nigeria to be more strategic in social investments. It is crucial to look in the rearview mirror, evaluate the failures and successes of policies, and build a stronger system. The need to develop a clear and forward-thinking strategy to address Nigeria’s deep-rooted socio-economic challenges has never been more urgent. 

This is not a time for politicking. Research and reports have confirmed the inefficiencies of past programmes, and even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu leadership through the office of Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF has acknowledged the lack of a proper system in previous administrations. In the statement, “President Bola Tinubu has also raised significant concerns regarding operational lapses and improprieties surrounding payments to the program’s beneficiaries.” Now is the time to re-strategise. 

To ensure effectiveness, Policymakers with both theoretical and practical experience must be appointed. Social intervention programs should be designed based on data, evidence, and a well-structured framework, rather than being hastily introduced without a clear roadmap. If necessary, the NSIP should be restructured, rebranded, or reinvented, but it must not be abandoned. 

The introduction of the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), student loan scheme is a commendable step toward providing financial support for university students. Notably, unlike previous modus operandi, the government has demonstrated transparency in communicating the progress and disbursement of funds to institutions, with public acknowledgments made available through the agency’s official channels. But while education is very important, other aspects of national welfare—especially those addressed by the NSIP—must not be neglected. A similar approach to transparency should be adopted in the management of a redesigned social investment programme. 

In summary, the suspension of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) has been met with complete silence, with no official announcement, accountability, and no future plans for it. This lack of transparency is worrying the future of a programme aimed to alleviate poverty and support millions of poor Nigerians. The government must break this silence by issuing an official statement to the people regarding the destiny of the NSIP, conducting a proper audit of its accounts, and issuing a comprehensive report on its suspension.   

The media has a crucial role in preventing the NSIP from vanishing into thin air like other social intervention programs. Investigative journalists must persistently hold the government accountable by seeking transparency and demanding regular updates on the programme. Civil society players and public observers also have a role to play and leverage on the traditional and new media spaces to keep the debate going so that the suspension of NSIP continues to be in the public agenda. 

If the programme is to be restarted or reorganised, it must be accompanied by a clear-cut working plan, tight control, and evidence-based policies to ensure money reaches the needy. Above all, the NSIP had the potential to change lives; it should not become yet another shelved social programme—the government must act quickly to either resume NSIP with proper reforms or introduce a viable alternative that serves the same objective. 

Lastly, to our media compatriots and stakeholders, the stakes are high especially for the purpose of nation-building. The media must continue to be a voice and tool for foster communications for development. Therefore, this long silence must end, and real action; such as revisiting unattended issues on NSIP, embarking on thorough investigation of pending matters, interrogating allegations, mismanagement of public funds must be at the forefront of the media agenda— as the true watchdog and not lapdog of democracy. 

Olasunkanmi Arowolo is a PhD (Journalism) candidate at the Centre for Journalism, University of Kent, England and Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Communications and Media Studies, Lagos State University, Nigeria. He can be contacted at [email protected] or on X/Twitter @olaarowolo.