The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, with immediate effect, suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu from Office.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale took to the official Presidency Nigeria X account to make this development known today, Monday, January 8, 2024.
He said, the action is in accordance with the President’s vowed “commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.”
The statement, from 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 Ministry Dr Betta oversees together with one or more agencies thereunder.
The Minister is further directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and urged to cooperate with the investigating authorities.
It reads, “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 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”, the statement concluded. (sic)
The statement expressly stated that the directives of President Bola Tinubu take immediate effect.
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