MON, JAN 08 2024-theGBJournal| Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has been suspended from office with immediate effect, the Presidency announced on Monday.
The Presidency said her suspension is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.
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.
According to a statement released by Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, ”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.”
The Presidency said, 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.
Recall that serious concerns was raised by the public recently regarding the payment of funds into a private account by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Following the uproar, The Minister of Information and and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, urge Nigerians to exercise patience as the investigation unfolds.
He assured that the government is focused on ensuring a fair and unbiased process, and the findings will be communicated duly and transparently to the public.
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