The organization requested that the President impose on Mrs. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the same disciplinary action (suspension) that was imposed on Mrs. Halima Shehu, the CEO of NSIP.
Minister Betta Edu
President Bola Tinubu has been urged to be impartial in the face of significant corruption allegations that are upending the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) office by the public procurement advocacy group Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD).
This was said in a statement issued by Mr. Akingunola Omoniyi, the head of NEFGAD, saying that President Tinubu had been given the chance to demonstrate to Nigerians that he was prepared to combat corruption.
The organization requested that the President impose on Mrs. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the same disciplinary action (suspension) that was imposed on Mrs. Halima Shehu, the CEO of NSIP.
“The President has a golden opportunity to prove to Nigerians and the world that he is prepared to take action to tackle corruption in a fair, equitable, and productive manner,” he said in the statement he released, in part. just, and impartial manner by applying the same disciplinary measure (suspension) meted out to the NSIP CEO, Mrs. Halima Shehu, regarding the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the reduction of poverty, Mrs. Betta Edu, in light of the recent developments in the Humanitarian office.
Some media outlets claim that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation penned a document on December 20, 2023, outlining instructions given to the Accountant-General of the Federation to deposit N585,189,500 into a private UBA account 2003682151 that belonged to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, with reference number FMHAPA/HQ/OHM/S.208.
“It was inappropriate for the president to respond to Dr. Edu and Mrs. Halima Shehu’s charges since, aside from their distinct places of residence inside the nation, their tendencies and patterns are too similar.
“Directing a public officer to transfer funds from the public to a private account is a serious breach of public procurement and fiscal malfeasance that carries severe penalties under current laws, regulations, and rules, including the Fiscal Responsibility, Public Procurement, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses (ICPC), Code of Conduct Acts, and the Prevention and Prohibition of Money Laundering Act.
By ordering the transfer of public funds into private accounts other than those of a legal entity, “who has duly participated in a competitive selection process and/or are direct beneficiaries of a conditional grant program (for vulnerable individuals as defined by the Ministry’s mandate),” Mr. Akingunola went on to say that the minister had serious questions to answer.
“It shows clear instances of favoritism, pure nepotism, giving undue advantage, and criminal diversion,” he claimed.
Therefore, the group pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to immediately order Dr. Betta Edu’s suspension so that the anti-corruption institutions may conduct a comprehensive investigation.
