President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the suspension of Dr. Halima Shehu from the office of the New National Coordinator, National Social Investment Programme Agency, following allegations of financial misconduct over alleged financial impropriety.
The National N-Power Programme Manager, Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo, has been immediately appointed as the acting NC/CEO during the investigation process.
The president has also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the allegations against Halima Shehu.
Recall that NSIPA, which is responsible for managing critical programs like N-Power and Conditional Cash Transfer, has been under scrutiny in recent times, with concerns raised about efficiency and effectiveness.
This decision comes within three months of Shehu’s confirmation by the Senate.
Previously, she served as the National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, leveraging her banking background to digitise the programme.
Her experience also includes a tenure at the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development from 2017 to 2022.
Shehu was born in Kafin Dagi village, Katsina, Katsina State, is a well-trained professional in financial transactions as she worked as the head of several banking units, including the cash, funds transfer, clearing, reconciliation, operations and coordination units; across all three banks.
The former NSIPA joined politics in 2010, during which she was first appointed in 2011 as a Senior Special Assistant to a former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema. She also served as a member of the state’s Internal Revenue Board.
Shehu had her First School Leaving Certificate, and attended the Federal Government College, Kaduna State, for her secondary school education, where she obtained her West African Examination Certificate.
She proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, for a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language, and later earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from ABU, Zaria.
After her education, she completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps at the Afri-Project Consortium under the Petroleum Trust Fund. After her NYSC, Shehu began her 10-year banking career, during which she worked at the former Intercity Bank, before proceeding to Unity and Access Banks.