January 8, 2023 NewsOrient, Newsbreak

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered suspension of the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edo, over her alleged involvement in a scandalous transfer of N585m of public funds to a private account.

The alleged corrupt move is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

A press statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), dated January 8, 2024, confirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the minister’s suspension.

It reads:

“PRESIDENT TINUBU SUSPENDS MINISTER OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION FROM OFFICE

“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 thereunder.

“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.”

NewsOrient reports that there has been ceaseless outcry over the activities of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs And Poverty Eradication in Nigeria since the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari. As was the case during Buhari, poor Nigerians are still groaning over false claims by the ministry of distributing phantom palliatives to the people.

~ NewsOrient