Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu named 45 ministers in his new cabinet as his government looks to tackle huge security and economic problems
AFP

President Bola Tinubu has established a special presidential panel to completely overhaul the social investment programs.

The new six-member panel, which will be headed by Wale Edun, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, will comprehensively review and audit existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the social investment programs and will propose modifications for the implementation of the programs.

This will ensure open and accountable governance frameworks for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households across Nigeria, according to an official statement shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Furthermore, the panel will develop processes to win back Nigerians' confidence in these important programs.

Other members of the panel include Professor Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation; Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; and Ayodele Olawande, Minister of State for Youth.

The announcement of the new panel comes after the president suspended four national social investment programs under the National Social Investment Program Agency following the financial scandal in the humanitarian ministry which supervised them.

The suspended programs include N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer, Government Enterprise and Empowerment and Home Grown School Feeding program.

Meanwhile, the current humanitarian minister, Betta Edu, is under suspension and her predecessor, Sadiya Faruq, is also undergoing investigation by the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Tinubu seems to be doing everything possible to win back the confidence and make life easier for Nigerians who are going through a tough time following the removal of the fuel subsidy, which increased food and fuel prices across the country.

This panel was announced just a few days after the president appointed new boards for the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission and National Hajj Commission to ensure a hassle-free experience for Nigerians in the upcoming pilgrimage season.

Furthermore, the president previously appointed six new executive directors in two agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

After getting criticized by Nigerians, the president also added a limit on a number of staff allowed to accompany him and other top officials during a foreign trip.