Nigerian lawmakers repeatedly tried to manipulate the list of beneficiaries of the government’s social investment programmes (NSIP), a presidential aide has said.

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investments, Maryam Uwais, accused members of the Senate and the House of Representatives of repeatedly attempting to insert names of would be beneficiaries. She said her office resisted the attempts, which may have influenced the recent criticism of the programme by the lawmakers.

Mrs Uwais, who said this in a statement on Wednesday, was responding to the leadership of the National Assembly which faulted the implementation of the Buhari administration’s programmes.

The NSIPs include the school feeding programme for primary school pupils, the N-Power for jobless graduates, the conditional cash transfer for elderly cum vulnerable Nigerians, and the government empowerment programme that includes tradermoni – giving out of micro loans to smalll-scale traders.

The lawmakers recently criticised the approach adopted by the federal government to distribute social grants to Nigerians who suffer the impact of the coronavirus lockdown.

They called for legislation for the programme in line with what it said was global best practices.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had expressed their concerns at a meeting with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, and some officials of the ministry on Tuesday.

The meeting, convened by the leadership of the National Assembly, was against the backdrop of the ongoing federal government interventions aimed at reducing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the most vulnerable Nigerians, following the lockdown order given by Mr Buhari on March 29.

The Manipulation Plot

Mrs Uwais lamented the attempt to insert names of beneficiaries of the programme by the lawmakers, describing it as “regrettable and dangerous”.


The lawmakers had alleged that the beneficiaries “are not known personally to the them” and the National Social Register (NSR) is a scam which needs to be reformed through a process that is “more inclusive of the NASS.”

In response, Mrs Uwais explained that the NSR comprises persons selected by the communities directly, within the constituencies of each of the NASS members.

“No person has been imported from one community to the other. They have been identified as very poor by the communities in which they reside and may not necessarily be known by the lawmakers,” she explained in her statement.

She said the identities and status of the beneficiaries can be verified as it had been done.


“It should be noted that Nigeria has signed a financing Apagreement with the World Bank, in which the process of identification of beneficiaries was set out. Any departure from the process, would place at risk the accessibility to the IDA Credit and the recovered funds from the Abacha family,” she said.

‘Repeated Demand For Inclusion’

“The demand for the inclusion of candidates to the NSR from the NASS has been a recurring issue from the inception of the NSIPs,” Mrs Uwais said. “My role and singular focus has simply been to comply with the terms of Agreement and the MoU entered into by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as to establish an objective, efficient and transparent process for uplifting the poor out of poverty through structures and mechanisms that are credible and sustainable.”

“I have consistently reminded both NASS committee chairmen on poverty alleviation that there is no social protection programme in the world in which politicians are responsible for selecting the beneficiaries of cash transfers.

“All successful social protection programmes extract their beneficiaries from an objective community platform, if only to ensure that the poorest of the poor are supported out of poverty in an inclusive community driven and timely manner.”

She explained that the data being collated in each household “enables the accurate and scientific measurement and tracking, to assure of analysis and research towards resolving poverty.”

“Since poverty knows no ethnicity, religion or political affiliation, the process must be insulated from influences that are likely to deviate from achieving the desired objective of alleviating abject poverty, rather than be used for patronage or as compensation for loyalty.

“The tripartite process for identification of cash transfer beneficiaries is in accordance with similar established best practice the world over, as the communities in which the poor reside know who is most in need.”

She said the the various communities take ownership and support the process, if engaged in the identification of the needy.

“While not perfect, the process is as near authentic as is possible in the circumstances, as we continue to strive towards improvement. Building the State Social Registers has been a painstaking and continuous collaborative effort, with huge amount of funds expended in striving to achieve the credibility that would be put to waste, if discarded as suggested.

“Reform is certainly welcome, but not the ‘reform’ that would introduce influence and partisanship into the NSR, thereby making a mockery of the critical data so far collated around the country.”

Manipulation of such programmes and beneficiaries by top politicians is commonplace in Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Buhari’s ministers, including transportation minister, Rotimi Amaechi, hijacked a Chinese scholarship scheme for Nigerian students to study railway engineering in China.

Applicants who had no godfathers were denied the opportunity of applying while the ministers and other senior officials nominated the eventual beneficiaries of the scholarship.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/386859-nigerian-lawmakers-repeatedly-tried-to-manipulate-nsip-beneficiaries-presidential-aide.html

Mrs Uwais really gave it hot to the lawmakers. We need more people like her who can stand their ground and insist on doing things the right way. Hopefully, the woman who is now in charge of the program can also withstand the pressure from lawmakers and others with vested interest. Everything must be done to protect the National social investment program from being hijacked by political hawks.

By the time this covik one nine is over......The rest of of us that will survive will just park our tings and leave as this people might just sell this country out...


Everything about Nigeria is corruption!!!!

Una don dey confess small small

The problem here is simply a case of a bigger crook outsmarting the smaller crook.FG is the former while the rubberstamp NASS leadership who feel cheated out are the villains.

How did you spend 2 Trillion?

Weldone Madam.

Encore encore!

no wonder this lawmakers almost scuttle the 2017 recruitment exercise in npower....

Na so Dem take dey run their matterz in dx country....After Dem go claim say Dem dey fight against corruption

While not perfect, the process is as near authentic as is possible in the circumstances, as we continue to strive towards improvement. Building the State Social Registers has been a painstaking and continuous collaborative effort, with huge amount of funds expended in striving to achieve the credibility that would be put to waste, if discarded as suggested.

Still same question.... on what indices or criteria was the ministry able to determine the poorest of the poor if they claim they do not have phones, bank accounts, carer etc..

How were they able to determine these were not ghost applicants since they receive cash without record or trace?

Could they not have used biometric registration on initial registration rather than sharing cash to impersonators?...

valentineuwakwe:
no wonder this lawmakers almost scuttle the 2017 recruitment exercise in npower....

Boss what's happening with Npower stipends?

They are all bunch of useless and selfish criminals.

dem don turn am against NASS because they asked them to account for the 2 trillion they stole

[s]

seunmsg:
Mrs Uwais really gave it hot to the lawmakers. We need more people like her who can stand their ground and insist on doing things the right way. Hopefully, the woman who is now in charge of the program can also withstand the pressure from lawmakers and others with vested interest. Everything must be done to protect the National social investment program from being hijacked by political hawks.

[/s]

because they asked her to account for the 2 trillion she stole

Charleys:
How did you spend 2 Trillion?

thank you

this thread is filled with bmc roaches trying to smear the nass for doing their job

this woman is behind the Auditor General's office arson

Charleys:
How did you spend 2 Trillion?

2 trillion or 600bil

ODB2:


thank you

this thread is filled with bmc roaches trying to smear the nass for doing their job

this woman is behind the Auditor General's office arson

The bolded has rubbished you.will you deny that the lawmakers wanted to insert names

ODB2:
[s][/s]

because they asked her to account for the 2 trillion she stole

If she stole it,how come some people received the money? Are you ok

senatordave1:


The bolded has rubbished you.will you deny that the lawmakers wanted to insert names

Why is she coming out with this statement now after NASS wants to probe the fund distribution.

How convenient that the AG's office which she said holds all necessary information and data on the recipients of the 2 trillion naira relief funds goes up in smoke just two days after she made her deposition.

You guys are all full of sh!t to think we are as stupid as the idiots that hire you to turn logic and truth on its head.

Who do we believe now?

Esseite:


Still same question.... on what indices or criteria was the ministry able to determine the poorest of the poor if they claim they do not have phones, bank accounts, carer etc..

How were they able to determine these were not ghost applicants since they receive cash without record or trace?

Could they not have used biometric registration on initial registration rather than sharing cash to impersonators?...

I dont like engaging with you but permit me to.theres mom perfect way to do with.no matter how you do it,they will be complsins and loopholes.

The indices were that the poorest will be rural dwellers,their earnings will be less than 1 dollar per day.they worked hand in hand with the state authorities and world bank.again,the community must agree that the beneficiaries are indeed poor.am sure there is a biometric process as they 0musically queue to collect their cash.

They are no ghost beneficiaries and impersonators and even if they are,they are few.there is no state or government establishment that does not have ghost staffs inspite of all efforts to eliminate them

senatordave1:

If she stole it,how come some people received the money? Are you ok

Then let her account for every single kobo.

Is that not what NASS is asking her

But now she is trying to deflect and smear the National Assembly in the face of a probe.

And by the way, did this thief not tell a Senate panel that the Auditor General's office has all the details of how she scammed Nigerians.

From AG's burnt down office she is now trying to smear NASS for doing their job.

She is a thief and will rot in jail and nothing you paid goons say or circulate here will help her when she is brought before a judge.

ODB2:


Why is she coming out with this statement now after NASS wants to probe the fund distribution.

How convenient that the AG's office which she said holds all necessary information and data on the recipients of the 2 trillion naira relief funds goes up in smoke just two days after she made her deposition.

You guys are all full of sh!t to think we are as stupid as the idiots that hire you to turn logic and truth on its head.

Oga,she is coming out now to put the records straight and stop people like you from misled.
By the way,all data about the beneficiaries are with ministry of disaster,the special adviser and even the VP office.what the burnt office has are photocopies.

ODB2:


Then let her account for every single kobo.

Is that not what NASS is asking her

But now she is trying to deflect and smear the National Assembly in the face of a probe.

And by the way, did this thief not tell a Senate panel that the Auditor General's office has all the details of how she scammed Nigerians.

From AG's burnt down office she is now trying to smear NASS for doing their job.

She is a thief and will rot in jail and nothing you paid goons say or circulate here will help her when she is brought before a judge.

While you wallow in ignorance,ill still try to curb it.she has started acvounting for the funds,by the way it is no more in her place to do that but the disaster ministry.it is the minister of finance that told the nass that the details are in the burnt office.
Stop embarrassing yourself.even a blind man can see that the nass are trying to blackmail her to put their own list

[s]

senatordave1:

I dont like engaging with you but permit me to.theres mom perfect way to do with.no matter how you do it,they will be complsins and loopholes.

The indices were that the poorest will be rural dwellers,their earnings will be less than 1 dollar per day.they worked hand in hand with the state authorities and world bank.again,the community must agree that the beneficiaries are indeed poor.am sure there is a biometric process as they 0musically queue to collect their cash.

They are no ghost beneficiaries and impersonators and even if they are,they are few.there is no state or government establishment that does not have ghost staffs inspite of all efforts to eliminate them

[/s]

So how much did she fleece or lost in the process of distributing 2 trillion naira by cash.

Do you even know how much 2 trillion niara is and the logistics involved in distributing it by hand.

Other than one rural suburb in Abuja where did they share the remaining 2 trillion

How many people got a share.

If you share 20,000 naira each you will reach at least 100,000,000 people.

One hundred Million people. That is roughly half the total population of Nigeria.

Are you people even sane at all to try and defend this broad day light heist.

senatordave1:

I dont like engaging with you but permit me to.theres mom perfect way to do with.no matter how you do it,they will be complsins and loopholes.

The indices were that the poorest will be rural dwellers,their earnings will be less than 1 dollar per day.they worked hand in hand with the state authorities and world bank.again,the community must agree that the beneficiaries are indeed poor.am sure there is a biometric process as they 0musically queue to collect their cash.

They are no ghost beneficiaries and impersonators and even if they are,they are few.there is no state or government establishment that does not have ghost staffs inspite of all efforts to eliminate them

Could bank accounts not be opened for them alongside BVN to create a system like it did with Npower and school feeding rather than cash hauling every single time which we all know is prone to corruption?..

And if there is a record of death, the FG is alerted and credit is stopped rather than working without records for an over N2tr scheme..

Senator... "think it naa"

[s]

senatordave1:

While you wallow in ignorance,ill still try to curb it.she has started acvounting for the funds,by the way it is no more in her place to do that but the disaster ministry.it is the minister of finance that told the nass that the details are in the burnt office.
Stop embarrassing yourself.even a blind man can see that the nass are trying to blackmail her to put their own list

[/s]

2 trillion naira divided by 20,000 naira amounts to 100,000,000 people that is half of Nigeria's population.


Do you know anyone around you who has received any money

You are all evil and insane to defend this rubbish.

Esseite:


Still same question.... on what indices or criteria was the ministry able to determine the poorest of the poor if they claim they do not have phones, bank accounts, carer etc..

How were they able to determine these were not ghost applicants since they receive cash without record or trace?

Could they not have used biometric registration on initial registration rather than sharing cash to impersonators?...

https://www.nairaland.com/5782052/maryam-uwais-lawan-gbajabiamila-got

Kindly go through the link above. The lady took her time to explain everything you need to know about the the National social register.

ODB2:
[s][/s]

2 trillion naira divided by 20,000 naira amounts to 100,000,000 people that is half of Nigeria's population.


Do you know anyone around you who has received any money

You are all evil and insane to defend this rubbish.

https://www.nairaland.com/5782052/maryam-uwais-lawan-gbajabiamila-got

You are crassly ignorant. There is no N2trillion anywhere except in your empty skull.

I have provided a link above, read and get proper understanding of the NSIP. After reading, you can come back to delete some of the meaningless questions you’re asking. If you still have some thing that are not clear to you, ask and I shall indulge you. Before then, go and read first.

seunmsg:


https://www.nairaland.com/5782052/maryam-uwais-lawan-gbajabiamila-got

Kindly go through the link above. The lady took her time to explain everything you need to know about the the National social register.

Yes I have gone through it, it was going well with the Npower program using BVN, school feeding using Banking system, tradermoni with BOI.

But the cash stipend to the poorest,(N5,000 & N20,000) how were they able to determine that category. the villagers can identify anyone, aswell as anyone can claim these are whom the villagers identified.. no control system.

I think that is where the NASS is concentrating on.