The Governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kwara State, Prof. Abdulmumin Olayinka Ajia, has called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the management of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) to provide full public accountability following allegations of financial irregularities and political settlements within the agency.
In an official press statement issued on Wednesday and made available to 9japarrot, Prof. Ajia expressed grave concern over reports alleging substantial disbursements made outside established application processes and standard beneficiary benefit categories.
“Social investment should protect vulnerable households, support livelihoods, and provide a credible pathway out of poverty,” Ajia stated.
“Public assistance is funded by the people. Access to it must never depend on party membership, personal loyalty, or support for a political officeholder. Any diversion of those resources, if established, constitutes a betrayal of the citizens the programme exists to serve.” He said.
Addressing the state leadership directly, the NDC candidate outlined five key demands to ensure complete transparency:
1. Publish a comprehensive financial account of KWASSIP from inception, detailing annual appropriations, actual fund releases, total expenditures, administrative costs, and outstanding balances.
2. Disclose beneficiary selection and payment procedures, including eligibility criteria, approved benefit categories, payment limits, and verifiable disbursement totals across all local government areas, while protecting sensitive personal data.
3. Explain whether payments were made outside established programme procedures, explicitly identifying their purpose, approving authorities, and supporting budgetary provisions.
4. Publish details of consultants, contractors, and payment intermediaries, including their selection processes, scope of responsibilities, and fee structures.
5. Facilitate an independent audit of the scheme, ensuring that its scope, findings, and the government’s official response are made publicly available.
Prof. Ajia cautioned the General Manager of KWASSIP and administrative officers against acting on political instructions without proper authorization, reminding them that all records, payment instructions, approval documents, and bank transaction logs must be preserved for post-2027 stewardship scrutiny.
He further urged the Kwara State House of Assembly to perform its constitutional oversight role by conducting a transparent investigation into the scheme, calling for appropriate investigative referrals and recovery of funds where wrongdoing is established.
He also emphasized that legitimate welfare support for vulnerable residents must continue without interruption, insisting that beneficiaries and whistleblowers must be protected from political intimidation or retaliation.
