President Bola Tinubu has suspended Betta Edu, the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, from office with immediate effect.

The Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the minister’s suspension in a statement on Monday afternoon.

There had been intense calls by rights activists and many Nigerians for Betta Edu ’s suspension. The Federal Government on Sunday acknowledged the outrage following her alleged involvement in a disbursement fraud and said the President had ordered a thorough probe of Edu’s ministry.

Controversy had enveloped Edu’s alleged involvement in the approval of N585,198,500.00 to be disbursed into a personal account.

However, the 37year Edu, who is also said to be the youngest in the President’s cabinet before her suspension, subsequently said there were plans to tarnish her image, adding that she won’t embezzle government funds.

In a letter allegedly signed by the humanitarian minister, she allegedly instructed the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer the sum to the account of one Oniyelu Bridget as grants for vulnerable groups in four states.

However, Madein explained that although her office received a request from the humanitarian ministry to make certain payments, her office did not act on it.

Incidentally, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is presently probing Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Farouq, over alleged laundering of N37.1 billion during her tenure as a minister under the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement on Monday, the President directed Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC Chairman, “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 President directed the suspended minister to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and “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.”

‘The President directed the suspended minister to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and “fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation”.Proscribe Militias As Terrorists’, Plateau Christian Leaders Present 10-Point Demands

The post Tinubu Suspends his Youngest Minister – Betta Edu – for Alleged Fraud appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

“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,” a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Sunday.

The statement is titled ‘Minister of Information and National Orientation addresses circulating narratives on payments made by Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.’

Betta Edu came under harsh criticism after a leaked memo on December 20, revealed that she directed Oluwatoyin Madein, the accountant-general of the federation, to transfer N585m to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

The FG said,

“The Ministry of Information and National Orientation acknowledges the concerns raised by the public regarding the alleged payment of 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.

“The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is transparent and accountable to the people, and committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilized effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians.”

The post Betta Edu: Tinubu Orders Probe over N585m Fraud appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The netizens are not taking it lightly with the Minister.

Dear Senators @SPNigeria
Would Dr Betta @edu_betta Resign for breach of Regulations ??@HouseNGR
Why Transferring Public Funds into Private account ??@SERAPNigeria @NGRPresident @officialABAT @ShehuSani @femigbaja @officialEFCC @B_ELRUFAI @NSIPAgency @OfficialAPCNg pic.twitter.com/Pi77gKnMO9

— 36 STATES & FCT N-POWER REPS FORUM (@Npower_Reps) January 6, 2024

Well, Rasheed Zubair, the special assistant on Media and Publicity to Betta Edu, has come out to say this is legal.

Edu in a viral document personally signed by her and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, instructed the disbursement of the funds to one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

The document also showed that the payment of the N585.198 million grant, meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, was made into Oniyelu’s account.

This has elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media, with many calling for the minister’s sacking.

But reacting to the leaked document, Zubair in a statement on Friday, said the payment for the vulnerable group followed due process.

According to Zubair, the payment of the grant to the account of Bridget was because the fellow currently serves as the Project Accountant of Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

He said,

“It is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear the Honourable Minister, Dr Betta Edu, and stain her integrity because she alerted the Federal Government attention to the ongoing N44.8 Billion Fraud in NSIPA.

“These elements have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure. However, this latest vile effort of theirs is another infantile blackmail doomed for evisceration.

“For the avoidance, the said N585m was approved, and it is meant to implement grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.

“We must note that GVG was first launched in Kogi State, where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023. Kogi already happened in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.

“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the Federal Government, which the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is implementing.

“Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance, and it is legal in civil service for a staff, the 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.”

The post Aide Defends Betta Edu over Transfer of N585m Palliative Fund into Private Account appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Ms Edu disclosed this when she assumed office on Monday in Abuja and held maiden meeting with the Chief Executive Officers of the agencies under the Ministry.

She assured Nigerians of her determination to ensure transparency and accountability during her tenure as Minister.

“What is most important is that we will keep our focus on lifting 133 million Nigerians out of poverty.

“We can do it in phases, a step at a time, because with determination and strong-will nothing is impossible.

“We will also achieve the feat with the strong political backing from His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu and every member of the cabinet.

”We will play down on politics, we are here to face the real business of governance” she said.

Nigeria has the awful distinction of being the world capital of poverty, with 71 million people living in extreme poverty according to the World PovertyClock, 2023 report.

Similarly, a total of 133 million people are classed as multidimensionally poor according to National Bureau of Statistics data.

The post We’ll Lift 133 million Nigerians Out of Poverty – Minister appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.