₦airaland Forum

In a significant development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the green light for a leadership change at the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo has been appointed as the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and National Coordinator, succeeding Halima Shehu.

The decision to replace Shehu stems from allegations of corruption and financial malfeasance during her tenure. President Tinubu took swift action to suspend Shehu, who assumed office in October 2023 following her confirmation by the Senate on October 18, 2023.

Dr. Egbuwalo steps into the role from his previous position as the National N-Power Programme manager. His appointment is seen as an interim measure, pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations against Shehu.

The National Social Investment Programme is a critical initiative aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting social inclusion across Nigeria. With the change in leadership, the focus now turns to how Egbuwalo will steer the agency through this transitional phase and address any issues that may have led to the suspension of his predecessor.

President Tinubu’s decision underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability in public service. The move sends a strong signal that allegations of corruption will not be tolerated, even at the highest levels of government.

The appointment of Egbuwalo, with his background in managing the N-Power Programme, is seen as a strategic move to ensure continuity and expertise in the crucial area of social investment.

The suspension of Halima Shehu, just months after her confirmation, raises questions about the vetting process for key government appointments. It also highlights the challenges faced by leaders in maintaining the integrity of their administrations.

As Dr. Egbuwalo assumes his new role, the public awaits updates on the progress of the investigation into Shehu and anticipates the measures that will be taken to strengthen the National Social Investment Programme. The outcome of this transition will likely shape the public’s perception of the government’s commitment to combating corruption and delivering on its social investment promises.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has refuted claims that he opened 593 foreign bank accounts.
Emefiele stated this in a statement on Sunday titled, “Re; Emefiele, other stole billions, illegally kept Nigeria’s funds in foreign banks” in response to the publication of the report of the Private Investigator into the affairs of the CBN, Jim Obazee.

In the leaked report, Obazee claimed that Emefiele opened 593 accounts in different parts of the world and bought three commercial banks in the country.

But according to the statement, Emefiele said he is not involved in the opening of the foreign accounts and he does not have knowledge of their openings.

The former CBN Governor asserted that fixed deposits in those foreign accounts are definitely outside his knowledge, adding that the relevant departments of the CBN have the authority to carry out such activities in line with their lawful mandate within the apex bank.

Emefiele, therefore, demanded a thorough and transparent investigation of the alleged frauds and has asked lawyers to immediately commence a legal process to clear my name from the defamatory statements contained in the report.

He said: “The final issue that I will like to respond to is the issue of the 593 accounts which were purportedly opened in different parts of the world. I state categorically that I am not involved in the opening of these accounts and I do not have knowledge of their openings. The fixed deposits in those foreign accounts are definitely outside my knowledge.

“However, let me state clearly, that the relevant departments of the CBN have the authority to carry out such activities in line with their lawful mandate within the CBN.

“I therefore join well-meaning Nigerians who have spoken on this matter and have demanded a thorough and transparent investigation of all these alleged frauds.

“Meanwhile, I have instructed my lawyers to immediately commence the legal process to clear my name from the defamatory statements contained in the report and by extension the publications.”

The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, on Thursday, said the state had uncovered on its payroll some doctors who left the state employment and migrated abroad to seek greener pastures, in what is commonly known as japa.

According to the governor, such doctors are still collecting salaries from the state despite that they have left the state employment and are now working abroad.

Otti made the revelation while speaking at the first Abia State Council on Health at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia with the theme, “Providing an Accessible, Affordable and Quality Healthcare System for the New Abia”.

The governor, while observing that doctors’ emigration had impacted negatively on the state’s health sector, promised to tackle the trend by giving doctors a special welfare package from next year.

He said, “The ‘japa’ syndrome has indeed taken its toll on the health sector; however, this administration is not leaving any stone unturned in addressing this challenge. To this end, the government has resolved to motivate our health care workers through prompt payment of their wages and improvement of welfare packages that we will introduce from 2024.”

The governor added that his administration would recruit more health workers to strengthen the health sector.

“We are in the process of recruiting new skilled birth attendants to improve healthcare service delivery in the state. Furthermore, our ongoing digitalisation of the Abia State civil service has uncovered some staff that have left their duty post for greener pastures, yet still receive remuneration from the government. While the criminality involved in this is going to be addressed by the relevant agencies of government, the important thing here is that we do not have the number of hands that were hitherto reported. We are working hard to fill these gaps,” he said.

Otti said his government was strengthening primary health care and ensuring that health facilities were manned by personnel across the state.

The Minister of Health, represented by the Permanent Secretary of Abia State Ministry of Health, Dr Ifenyinwa Uma-Kalu, stressed the need for state governments to support the Federal Government by providing the necessary infrastructure in the health care system.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, described the first State Council on Health as a demonstration of the commitment of Otti’s administration to prioritising developmental initiatives that capable of unlocking the potential of Abia’s strategic human capital.