Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged diversion of N33.75bn meant for cash transfers to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

Falana, in a statement issued yesterday, urged the anti-graft agency to work with the Auditor-General for the Federation to recover the money and prosecute public officials found culpable.

The call followed a disclosure by the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Chira, that the Federal Government could not provide sufficient evidence to auditors that N33.75bn in cash transfers intended for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households reached genuine beneficiaries.

The disclosure was contained in the Auditor-General’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

Falana said the development raised serious concerns about the management of funds intended to alleviate poverty and support vulnerable Nigerians.

He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should liaise with the Auditor-General of the Federation with a view to recovering the missing N33.75 billion. Furthermore, the EFCC should embark on an immediate investigation of the serious allegation of the criminal diversion of the sum of N33.75 billion in cash transfers earmarked for poor and vulnerable people in the country. All the characters involved in the shameful conduct should be arrested and prosecuted without any delay.”

The lawyer noted that the National Social Investment Programme Agency was established as a statutory agency under the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2022, enacted during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, the law empowered NSIPA to design social investment programmes, manage beneficiaries’ databases, strengthen payment and accountability systems and collaborate with state governments and development partners.

The Act provides for the implementation of programmes including N-Power, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, National Cash Transfer, National Social Safety-Net, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and the Grant for Vulnerable Groups.

However, Falana alleged that corruption involving some public officials had undermined the management of the programmes.

He recalled that the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, was investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1bn.

He further recalled that in April 2026, a Federal Capital Territory High Court issued an arrest warrant against Farouq and her former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Alkali, following their repeated failure to appear for arraignment.

Falana also referenced the scandal involving former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu, who was suspended in January 2024 after a leaked December 2023 memo directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer N585m in public intervention funds into a private bank account.

The lawyer also recalled that the former Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, Halima Shehu, was also suspended and questioned over alleged suspicious movement of funds.

He said the EFCC should conclude its investigation into the allegations involving Edu and Shehu so that the public could know the outcome.

“By now, the EFCC ought to have concluded its investigation into the scandal to enable Betta Edu and Halima Shehu to know their fate,” he said.

Following the controversies surrounding the management of social investment funds, the Federal Government introduced tighter beneficiary-tracking mechanisms, including requirements for beneficiaries to link their profiles with their Bank Verification Numbers and National Identification Numbers.

The measures were also designed to eliminate ghost beneficiaries and improve accountability in the disbursement of social protection funds.

Falana, however, said the latest revelation by the Auditor-General showed that significant questions remained about the effectiveness of the systems put in place to track social investment funds.

He also expressed concern over the planned implementation of a $3.05bn development package unveiled by President Bola Tinubu in July 2026.

According to him, the package, supported by the World Bank, is intended to deepen poverty reduction, strengthen human capital development and expand economic opportunities across the country.

The human rights lawyer said the Federal Government must ensure that the funds were not subjected to the same alleged abuses that had characterised previous social investment programmes.

He urged the government to establish an independent mechanism involving credible civil society organisations to oversee the disbursement of the funds to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

“Instead of allowing public officers to feast on the huge funds for poverty reduction in the land, the Federal Government should set up a body constituted by representatives of credible civil society organisations to disburse the $3.05bn package of development programmes to the poor and vulnerable people in the country,” he said.

Falana further claimed that the World Bank had concluded arrangements to withdraw the funds if the Federal Government failed to prevent officials from allegedly diverting resources meant for poverty reduction.

The latest controversy comes amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government and development partners to strengthen Nigeria’s social protection system and ensure that interventions reach intended beneficiaries.

The Auditor-General’s finding places fresh pressure on the government and anti-corruption agencies to establish what happened to the N33.75bn and determine whether the failure to account for the funds resulted from administrative weaknesses, fraud or criminal diversion.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has urged children to emulate the godly values, sacrifices and dedication of their parents, saying such virtues create legacies worthy of celebration.

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?Prof. Odu stated this during the 70th birthday celebration of Mrs. Compassion Dapa, at the White Jade Event Centre in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

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?The Deputy Governor congratulated the celebrant on attaining what she described as the “seventh floor,” noting that reaching 70 in good health and vitality was a remarkable milestone.

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?Prof. Odu, who described the celebrant as a woman of strong faith and prayer, said her life demonstrated the blessings that come from trusting in God and living in the fear of Him and commended her for raising nine children who had distinguished themselves in their various endeavours.

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?She also encouraged other parents to live exemplary lives so their children could one day speak proudly of them, as the Dapa children had done in honour of their mother and their late father.

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?“Let all of us that are here borrow a leaf from that, so that your children can proudly speak of you the way these children speak of their mother and their late dad,” she said.

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?The Deputy Governor described Mrs. Dapa as a woman whose presence brightened every gathering, praying that God would continue to sustain, strengthen and prosper her as she advances into her eighth, ninth and tenth decades.

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?In his remarks, the Chairman of the Occasion and former General Manager, Sustainable Development/Public Affairs, Total E&P Nigeria,  Dr. Vincent Nnamdi, described 70 as a significant milestone, saying the gathering reflected the love and appreciation of Dapa’s family for her sacrifices and upbringing.

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?He recalled his own mother’s influence on his character, stressing the important role mothers play in shaping their children’s lives.

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? In his welcome remarks, the celebrant’s son, Engr. Uche Dapa expressed appreciation to family members, friends and guests for honouring his mother, noting that their presence made the celebration complete.

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?He likened his mother’s steadfast love and presence to the enduring beauty of a sunset, describing her as “compassionate and very kind. Deep and yet very open. Tender and also very firm at the same time.”

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Primary and secondary schools across Rivers State will resume the 2026/2027 academic session today, the State Ministry of Education has announced.

The announcement was contained in a Public Interest Announcement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr. Mina Tele Ikuru, and dated September 3, 2026.

According to the statement, the resumption applies to all primary and secondary schools in the State, with both public and private institutions expected to commence academic and non-academic activities on the approved date.

The ministry directed all schools operating in the State to adhere strictly to the prescribed guidelines for the new academic session.

It further directed private schools to comply with the government-approved academic calendar for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The Permanent Secretary urged school proprietors, administrators, parents and guardians to take note of the approved resumption date and ensure compliance.

The ministry stressed the importance of all schools commencing activities as scheduled, as students and staff prepare for the first term of the new academic year.

The announcement brings to an end the long vacation, with pupils, students and teachers across the State expected back in classrooms from today.

Amadi Akujobi