Politics
NSIPA Amendment Bill Scales 2nd Reading In Senate
The National Social In vestment Programme Agency (NSIPA) Amendment Bill, 2023, yesterday, scaled through second reading at the Senate.
This followed the presentation of the lead debate on the general principles of the bill sponsored by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, at plenary yesterday.
The bill was entitled “National Social Investment Programme Agency (Establishment) Act 2023 (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (163).
Leading the debate, Bamidele moved a motion for the Senate to suspend its rule 78(1) in order to read the bill a second time.
The motion was supported by Senate Minority Whip, Sen. Darlington Nwokocha.
Leading the debate, Bamidele said that the bill was read for the first time yesterday.
He said that the bill sought to amend the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act for proper and effective management and implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes under the President.
Opeyemi said that the NSIP was created in 2016 by the last administration while the National Social Programme Agency Act was enacted in 2023 to address socio-economic inequalities and alleviate poverty among Nigerians.
“It’s expected to address these inequalities through four social support programmes meant to empower the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians to attain an acceptable standard of living.
“This directly and indirectly have impacted the lives of poor Nigerians through its four cluster programmes namely, the N-POWER Programme, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).
“Others are the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) and the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT),” he said.
Opeyemi said that the bill sought to amend sections 9(3), 14(1), 21(1), 22(1), 26(1) and 33 of the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act.
“This is by transferring the agency from the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to the Presidency under the direct supervision of the President, C-in-C.
“This amendment is as a result of the commitment of the renewed hope mantra of President Bola Tinubu in ensuring that Social Investment Programme are standard, transparent, effective and accountable structure of delivery.
“With this amendment, a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including poverty reduction, education, health, social inclusion and empowerment can be achieved through the NSIPA.
“Countries the world over have recognised and deployed similar social support programmes as an effective strategy for poverty reduction, social development and economic growth.
“The passage of this bill will ensure continuity and sustainability of NSIPA as a reliable tool to solve poverty problems in Nigeria and also serve as an enduring legacy of this administration, “ he said.
In his contribution, Sen. Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe) said that those who should benefit from the programme were those who could not be reached since the country was talking about social inclusion.
“If the bill is to be passed, we must ensure the capturing of those to benefit and the National Assembly must monitor and participate in the entire process.
“Our relevant committees must be fully involved,” Lawan said.
Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno), said that the role of all stakeholders including lawmakers should be spelt out in the bill.
“They should ensure efficient and effective implementation.”
On his part, the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Jibrin Barau commended the President for the amendment of the law and effort to domicile the programme in the Presidency.
“This is because the President has decided to work toward eradication of poverty and better the lot of ordinary Nigerians.
“So, let’s support the president to do what he wants to do by passing the bill,” he said.
In his remarks, President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, said that there was need to appraise the implementation of previous social intervention programmes and find ways to improve on it since government was continuous.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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