- Orders thorough investigation of all financial transactions involving Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
…Task Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to reform the financial architecture and framework of social investment programmes
President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
Betta suspension followed a leaked letter to the Office of Accountant General of the Federation for a payment of the sum of N585m into the private bank account of Mrs. Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola for onward payments of grant to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun State as claimed by the minister.
The leaked letter was amidst allegations of embarrassment of N3Billion belonging to the National Social Investment Protection Agency (NSIPA) for which the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday (today) subjected the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs Sadiya Umar Farouq to questioning for hours at EFCC Headquarters.
In a terse four paragraphs statement on Monday Chief Ajuri Ngelale , Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity) who conveyed Betta Edu suspension said the Minister has been directed to hand over the affairs of the ministry to the permanent Secretary and to cooperate with the EFCC in its investigations.
It read this:
“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.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
January 8, 2024
Recalled that the Minister of Information had on Sunday said the federal government will probe N585m Betta Saga for appropriate action.
This followed the denial by the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, on Saturday that the OAGF does not make payments on behalf of MDAs for projects and programmes implemented by the MDAs.
The AGF reaction followed claims in the media that approval was given by her office to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for the payment of grants to vulnerable groups in some States of the Federation.
Dr. Madein stated in a statement by
Bawa Mokwa(Director (Press) that allocations are released to self-accounting MDAs in line with the budget and such MDAs are responsible for the implementation of their projects and payments for such projects.
The AGF noted that in such situations, payments are usually processed by the affected Ministries as self-accounting entities and no bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of Project Accountant.
She added that such payment should be sent to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts.
Dr. Madein reiterated her determination to uphold the principles of accountability and transparency in the management of public finances. She advised MDAs always to ensure that the requisite steps are taken in carrying out financial transactions.