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President Bola Ahmad Tinubu has ordered the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu from office following the scandal that rocked her office caused by the minister’s directive to the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) to make a payment of N585 million to a personal account of a civil servant.
The directive contravenes constitutional provision guiding public office.
Maxilens news reports that Ms Edu’s suspension is coming less than two weeks after the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programmed Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu for allegedly moving N44 billion from the agency’s accounts to private accounts.
The minister’s suspension was affirmed on Monday in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.
“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,” the statement read.
