The pro-democracy group, Young Women in Nigerian Politics, made an appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to consider appointing Delu Yakubu, his Senior Special Assistant on Humanitarian Affairs, as the new national coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
Recent developments revealed that Halima Shehu, the current NSIPA coordinator and chief executive officer, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) due to an alleged involvement in a N44 billion money laundering case. She was subsequently released on bail after being suspended by President Bola Tinubu.
Reports indicated that the said sum was suspiciously transferred from NSIPA’s accounts into private and corporate accounts linked to individuals acting as proxies.
In a statement issued by Rejoice Ishaku, the Convener of the women’s organization based in Kaduna, they urged President Tinubu to replace the embattled NSIPA Coordinator with Ms. Yakubu. Ishaku recalled Yakubu’s prior nomination by the President and screening by the National Assembly before assuming the role of Senior Special Assistant on Humanitarian Affairs.
She said, “We are aware that Ms Yakubu was the first candidate nominated by Mr President to lead the agency. She was screened by the National Assembly and even assumed the office but for some inexplicable reasons, she was instead appointed as the senior special assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“We are thankful to Mr President for considering her as his SSA and we firmly believe that if he elevates her to head the NSIPA, she will add immense value to his administration.”
