Hajiya Maryam Uwais, The Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, has been removed from heading and supervising the program by President Muhammadu Buhari. She has been redeployed to The Presidency.
The National Social Investment Program is a Social Welfare Initiative crested by the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Soon after, Mrs Uwais was appointed by the President to head the very sensitive and crucial program, which includes N-Power, GEEP (Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program), HGSF (Home Grown Feeding Program) and Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCT).
It can be recalled that in 2018, The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, challenged Mrs Uwais when she publicly proclaimed that the Social Investment Program coordinated by Hajiya Maryam Uwais had failed in the North.
In 2019, on his re-election, President Buhari created a new ministry, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. The President then went ahead to move the Social Investment Programmes, together with Hajiya Maryam Uwais as it’s head, and lodge it under the new Ministry.
Last week, the President then went ahead to remove Hajiya Maryam Uwais from heading and supervising the Social Investment Programmes and directed her to move back to the Presidency and serve as an Adviser on Social Development.
The Exact Exit Messgae that Hajiya Maryam Uwais wrote to the N-SIP team is as follows:
“Good evening all. Just to inform you that I have been redeployed to the Presidency but your programs will continue to run under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Wish you the very best, as I look forward to a fresh mandate! Please remain watchful and protect the beneficiaries, as they are the reason for the programs! Shall exit from this platform now, thanks.”
With this new development Mrs. Uwais no longer has control of the program. No longer can she make any decision on the program. No longer can she make any expenditure on behalf of the program. No longer does she have a mandate under the N-SIP.
The Social Investment Programmes remain under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development following President Buhari’s decision and proclamation.