Federal Government Restructures NASSCO for Enhanced Social Investment Program Implementation

By Iyojo Ameh

In a bid to enhance the effectiveness of the National Social Investment Programme in Nigeria, the federal government has announced a major restructuring of the management team of the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO).

This significant development was unveiled by Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in a statement issued on Tuesday through her spokesperson, Rasheed Zubair.

The decision to restructure NASSCO aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to adapt the Social Safety Net Programme to cater to the expanded mandate of the ministry, which includes poverty alleviation.

Under the new organizational structure, Minister Betta Edu will assume the position of Chairperson of NASSCO, while the Permanent Secretary of Humanitarian Affairs, Abel Enitan, will serve as the Secretary.

The reshuffling also includes the appointment of key individuals to various vital roles within NASSCO:

Abdulaziz Danladi as National Coordinator, Michael Ajuluchukwu as Head of the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), Janet Ekpenyong as Deputy Head of the NCTO, Richard Romanus as National Programme Manager of Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations while Jamalu Kaburu will serve as the National Communication Manager, National Social Investment Programme.

Other are: Chidinma Makuachukwu as National Programme Manager, Renewed Hope Shelter Programme for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Thalis Apalowo as National Programme Manager, Grant For Vulnerable Groups, Salia Sanusi Yusuff as Programme Manager, At Risk Children Programme, Joseph Nkang to oversee the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Akindele Egbuwalo as Programme Manager for the N-Power Programme and Renewed Hope Skills Acquisition Programme, Etcheri Ansa in charge of the National Alternate School Programme for out-of-school children and Olubunmi Bello as National Project Manager for the Community and Social Development Programme.

The Minister charged the newly appointed team members to leverage their wealth of experience in driving President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda to success. She emphasized that their appointments are immediate, and there will be no room for excuses or failure in fulfilling the mandated objectives of the program.