President Bola Tinubu on Monday approved the suspension of the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
The suspension was disclosed in a statement by the presidential spokesman, Mr Ajuri Ngelale.
The statement said the action was taken in line with the president’s avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.
“In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
“The president further directs 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 there under.
“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.
“These directives of the President take immediate effect.”
Recall that a leaked memo revealed that Edu had in December, requested the accountant general of the federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein to transfer N585.18 million from the national social investment office account to the UBA account of one Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant of a federal government poverty intervention project called grants for vulnerable groups (GVG).
The ministry had claimed that the N585.18 million payment was meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.
The ministry said Oniyelu currently serves as the project accountant, GVG for the aforementioned states.
However, Madein was said to have turned down the minister’s request to pay the money into a private account.
She 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.
“The ministry was advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure.
“No bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of the project accountant,” Madein said.
