NEWS
Reps Demand President Tinubu Unfreeze NSIPA Accounts Within 72 Hours
The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to unfreeze the accounts of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) within 72 hours to allow for the swift recommencement of the agency’s programs.
In a related move, the House also resolved that Edun should ensure the immediate release of funds to NSIPA to pay the outstanding stipends owed to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries nationwide.
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The amount due, totaling N81,315,440,000, has already been allocated under the 2023 and 2024 amended Appropriation Acts but is at risk of lapsing by December 31, 2024.
The resolutions came after the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Unfreeze the Accounts of the NSIPA for the Reactivation of all Social Investment Programmes of the Agency.”
The motion was jointly sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu and 20 other lawmakers.
Kalu noted that despite the critical role NSIPA plays in poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, and social inclusion, the agency’s activities have been severely hindered due to administrative bottlenecks, insufficient funding, and the continued freezing of its accounts.
Kalu stressed the importance of the agency’s programs, which include the N-Power scheme, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).
He said these initiatives are vital for addressing the needs of vulnerable groups such as the unemployed, orphans, widows, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable senior citizens.
“The ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration emphasizes the mandate of NSIPA to cushion the effect of economic shocks on the poor and vulnerable,” Kalu said.
“It is disturbing that despite the agency’s vital role, its operations have been hindered by frozen accounts and other administrative obstacles.”
Kalu further expressed concern that the freezing of NSIPA’s accounts, coupled with allegations of financial mismanagement, has halted key welfare programs.
He emphasized that this is directly counterproductive to the president’s poverty alleviation efforts, noting that programs like the Conditional Cash Transfers and small business grants have been stymied.
“The suspension of NSIPA’s accounts contradicts the President’s mandate on poverty alleviation, hindering and halting crucial social welfare programs, which undermines efforts at economic empowerment,” Kalu added.
The Deputy Speaker also pointed out that the N-Power scheme alone has left 395,731 beneficiaries unpaid, with arrears of over N81 billion.
He urged that immediate action be taken to restore the agency’s accounts and fulfill the government’s commitment to poverty eradication.
The House also called on the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Nentawe Yilwatda, to take swift action to remove the administrative bottlenecks that continue to impede NSIPA’s operations.
As part of the resolution, the House instructed that the matter be forwarded to the Senate for concurrence, signaling the urgency with which lawmakers are pushing for the unfreezing of NSIPA’s accounts and the resumption of the agency’s crucial programs.
Kalu concluded, “Restoring NSIPA’s account aligns with the President’s vision, ensuring that poverty alleviation efforts remain effective, efficient, and impactful. Swift action is needed to maintain momentum towards the administration’s poverty eradication goals.”
Former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has reportedly died, according to sources said to be close to his family.
The sources confirmed the development on Monday, October 19, 2026, although details surrounding the circumstances of his death remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
“Uduaghan is no more; he is dead,” one of the sources reportedly said.
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The reported death comes months after claims that the former governor had died circulated on social media before being dismissed by his media aide, Henry Unini.
In June, reports of Uduaghan’s alleged death spread across Facebook and WhatsApp, prompting Unini to publicly debunk the claims and assure the public that the former governor was alive.
“I can tell you for a fact that Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is alive,” Unini said at the time.
“Frankly, I don’t know where the writer got his information from. The death of someone is not something you take and write about casually,” he added.
Unini acknowledged at the time that Uduaghan had been experiencing health challenges but maintained that he was receiving medical attention.
“It is now common knowledge that Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has been sick, but he is receiving proper medical care,” the media aide said.
He also stated that the former governor was recuperating, assuring the public that there was no immediate cause for concern.
“There is no cause for alarm whatsoever,” Unini said.
The media aide thanked friends, well-wishers and residents of Delta State who contacted the family to verify the former governor’s condition. He also urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information.
“The rumour was uncalled for,” he said while addressing the earlier reports.
As of the time of filing this report, further details about the circumstances surrounding Uduaghan’s reported death had yet to emerge.
The Delta State Government has commenced a ₦5 billion grassroots empowerment programme targeting 100,000 small-scale business owners and other beneficiaries across the state’s 500 wards.
The initiative, announced on Monday, will see each beneficiary receive ₦50,000 to support small businesses, strengthen household finances and stimulate economic activities across the state.
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The Executive Assistant to the Governor on Public Enlightenment (Projects and Policies), Mr Olisa Ifeajika, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Asaba.
Ifeajika explained that the programme was designed to complement the state government’s investments in critical infrastructure with direct financial assistance to residents.
According to him, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori directed local government councillors to facilitate the distribution of the funds, with each of the 500 wards expected to reach at least 200 beneficiaries.
He added that the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to improving livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities for Deltans, in line with the people-centred objectives of the MORE Agenda.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Aliko Dangote Foundation for plans to acquire Initial Public Offering (IPO) shares of Dangote Refinery on behalf of eligible Nigerian tertiary institution students.
Alausa described the initiative as an innovative approach to promoting financial literacy, youth empowerment and wealth creation among young Nigerians.
According to a press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on Monday, October 19, 2026, the initiative is expected to benefit up to four million students aged 18 and above, with each eligible student expected to receive 10 IPO shares without requiring prior investment or share purchase.
The minister said the programme would expose students to capital markets, responsible investing and long-term financial planning, preparing them for greater economic participation and financial independence.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by connecting education with enterprise, human capital development and inclusive economic growth.
According to Alausa, the initiative reflects the importance of partnerships between the education sector and private organisations in equipping young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in the economy.
He said the Federal Ministry of Education remained committed to strengthening private-sector partnerships to improve educational quality, relevance, equity and efficiency while preparing learners for a changing economy.
While appreciating the foundation’s contribution to youth development, the minister clarified that the ministry’s commendation was based on the initiative’s educational and developmental value.
He stressed that the ministry’s position “does not constitute an endorsement of any particular investment decision.”
Alausa also encouraged other corporate organisations to support similar initiatives that promote financial awareness, economic productivity and entrepreneurship among young Nigerians.
He urged businesses to support NESRI and the Renewed Hope Agenda in building a financially informed and economically productive generation.
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