The Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE) has called for an independent investigation into Nigeria’s social intervention programmes, alleging years of poor accountability, weak oversight and unresolved corruption cases that have undermined efforts to reduce poverty despite trillions of naira spent by successive governments.

In a statement issued on July 31, the advocacy group headed by Kelvin Oye, said Nigeria’s anti-poverty programmes have failed to deliver meaningful improvements in the lives of millions of vulnerable citizens, arguing that economic growth figures mean little if they do not translate into improved living standards.

The organisation urged the Federal Government, anti-graft agencies, the National Assembly and development partners to ensure that allegations of financial mismanagement in the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) and other intervention schemes are thoroughly investigated and concluded.

AERE’s call followed claims by former NSIPA Chief Executive Officer, Halima Shehu, who alleged during an interview on Arise News that she uncovered financial irregularities after assuming office.

According to the organisation, Shehu claimed she initiated an internal audit and wrote to her supervising minister and the permanent secretary seeking explanations over the movement of funds. She also alleged that officials were deployed into the agency without her knowledge and operated outside her authority. The alliance said Shehu’s petitions allegedly received no response before she reported her concerns to the World Bank Country Director.

It noted that Shehu was later detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in January 2024 during investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving between N37.1 billion and N44 billion, allegations she has consistently denied.

The group stressed that it was not making any legal determination on the allegations, noting that the courts remain the appropriate forum for establishing guilt or innocence.

AERE said the country’s poverty statistics demonstrate the need for greater accountability in the management of intervention funds.

It cited the National Bureau of Statistics’ 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index, which estimated that about 133 million Nigerians, representing 63 per cent of the population, were multidimensionally poor.

The organisation also referred to World Bank estimates showing that about 139 million Nigerians were living below the national poverty line in 2025.

According to the group, Nigeria devoted only about 0.14 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product to social safety nets in 2021, compared with an average of 1.2 per cent across Sub-Saharan Africa and 1.5 per cent globally.

It further cited World Bank data indicating that social safety-net coverage dropped from about 19 per cent in 2018/2019 to only six per cent by 2023.

The alliance also revisited controversies surrounding previous intervention schemes, including the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, arguing that repeated allegations of financial irregularities have weakened public confidence in government welfare initiatives.

It also referenced ongoing legal proceedings involving former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Sadiya Umar Farouq and former Minister Betta Edu, while emphasising that both remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by the courts.

AERE further expressed concern over reports that more than ₦30 billion allegedly recovered during investigations into NSIPA had yet to be remitted to the Treasury Single Account, calling for a public reconciliation of the funds.

To strengthen accountability, the organisation urged the EFCC to publish the outcome of its investigations, prosecute or clear affected officials without delay, strengthen whistleblower protection, introduce biometric verification for all beneficiaries, establish a harmonised national social register and commission independent forensic audits of social intervention programmes with support from development partners.

The group maintained that Nigeria’s anti-poverty initiatives must move beyond budget allocations and political promises to deliver measurable improvements in the welfare of citizens.

It said restoring public trust would require transparency, accountability and the timely conclusion of corruption investigations, adding that millions of poor Nigerians deserve programmes that genuinely improve their lives rather than recurring controversies over missing public funds. (The Sun)