SCANDAL: Tinubu Suspends Betta Edu Minister Of Humanitarian Affairs From Office

By Asuquo Nuwak

SCANDAL: Tinubu Suspends Betta Edu Minister Of Humanitarian Affairs From Office

…Directs EFCC to scrutinize the Ministry’s financial transactions

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, has been suspended from office with immediate effect by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over N585m scandal.

The suspension was in line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.

According to the statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President further directed the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale disclosed in a statement that: “The suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation”.

“Furthermore, the President has tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.

Ngelale further stated that: “These directives of the President take immediate effect”.
According to the statement issued, President Bola Tinubu, had earlier directed a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged N585m scandal in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. He vowed to decisively punish those involved in any breaches and infractions unravelled during the investigations.

The Minister who claimed that the N585m payment was meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, described the allegations against her as baseless.

The Media Assistant to the Minister, Rasheed Olarenwaju, in a statement disclosed that it was legal within the civil service for such payments to be made into private accounts of staff members, especially project accountants.

The project accountant for the Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) Oniyelu Bridget, from the Department of Finance, also said: “It is legal in civil service for a staffer, project accountant, to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire the same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed”.

Beside this, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, denied that her office did not honour the request to pay N585m into a private account as directed by the Minister.

The Director of Press in the office of the Accountant-General of Federation (OAGF) Mr. Jacob Mokwa, in a statement disclosed that the AGF does not make payment on behalf of MDAs. Madein further stated that her office received the Minister’s request as contained in a letter referenced FMHAPA/HQ/S.208 and dated December 20, 2023, but did not honour the request.

In addressing the public indignation over the revelation, the Information Minister said: “In light of recent events, the President has directed that a thorough and comprehensive investigation be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details.

The Ministry of Information and National Orientation, according to the report, acknowledges the concern raised by the public regarding the alleged funds into a private account by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“We are aware of the narratives circulating widely and wish to assure Nigerians that the government takes these issues most seriously”.

In conclusion, the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is transparent and accountable to the people, and is committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilised effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians.