There is no respite for the embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, as a leaked internal memo has further dragged her into the alleged N3 billion National Social Investment Programme Agency’s (NSIPA) fraud in the ministry.
Dr. Edu had earlier denied any involvement in the alleged fraud.
Already President Bola Tinubu has approved her suspension while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is on the verge of arresting her.
The memo indicated that the Minister approved funds to the tune of N2,515,000 for her advanced team to Lokoja as cost for flight tickets and airport taxi.
The memo which was initiated by the Programme Manager in charge of Grant for Vulnerable Groups, dated 6th November, 2023 titled: “The Disbursement Under the 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programmes in Kogi State, 2023”, urged the Minister to approve various sums of money for air transportation to Lokoja.
The details of cost implication showed that there are 3,000 beneficiaries to be disbursed with N20,000 each to the tune of N60 million and logistics for disbursement showed a sum of N3 million, totaling N63,000.
The template of disbursement under subheading showed the serial number, number of days to be spent in Kogi by the Minister’s advanced team, name and designation of officers, Grade Level, Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) for five nights in Kogi, local running at 30 percent of DTA, flight ticket and airport taxi in Lokoja.
It is a well established fact that there is no airport in the entire Kogi State, The last helipad owned by Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company in Kogi Central Senatorial District has been destroyed for close to 30 years ago and has been overgrown with weeds.
Though, there is an airstrip owned by the Dangote at Its Cement factory in Obajana, it is not opened for commercial flights
The beneficiaries of the acclaimed disbursement are yet to get alerts, despite approval of the memo by the Minister.
Meanwhile President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already suspended the Minister from office with immediate effect.
The suspension was revealed in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Monday.
He said it was in line with Tinubu’s avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.
The statement said, “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 to conclusively reform 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.”
In a related development, prominent civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for suspending the embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
HURIWA, which had on Saturday called for the suspension of Betta Edu, lauded Tinubu for taking the bull by the horns.
A statement by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that it was unthinkable that such a powerful erstwhile national women leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress Miss Betta Edu could have been suspended under the 8-year treacherous and most corrupt administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
HURIWA averred that: “We the people of Nigeria are happy that the President has responded swiftly, but it is expected that the process of investigation of all the allegations would be painstakingly carried out so we avoid the political situation whereby the entire process will turn out a charade or become a scenario of the ‘more you look the less you see’.
“We are watching and hoping that no stone is left unturned to ensure that not a single kobo belonging to the masses of Nigeria is diverted by crooked means. Enough is enough! We hope that this whole development wouldn’t turn as ‘government magic’ which will become a disastrous betrayal of public trust”.
HURIWA welcomed what it called a breath of fresh air in the leadership style of the current administration and hoped for a sustainable approach towards providing selfless services to the good people of Nigeria.
HURIWA said: “it is by demonstrably showing that the President is responsive and receptive to the rational voices of the people, that transparency and accountability would become the pinnacle of governance in the Country and by so doing, good governance will come to birth in the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
The rights group also charged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismiss his ministers who aren’t focused on delivering their mandates.
“Nigeria is facing a battle of unprecedented dimension to wrestle mass poverty to the ground and to liberate hundreds of millions of Nigerians from the adversities of absolute poverty.
“This therefore requires determined actions by the head of state and head of government to make sure that the ministers give their best in the service of fatherland and the citizenry” the rights group stated.