By Nudoiba Ojen
President Bola Tinubu on Monday suspended, with immediate effect, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, pending investigation into the alleged N585.2m scam involving her ministry.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said, “The suspended minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.
Ngelale, in a statement, stated that the suspension is “in line with President 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.
“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.
“This is with a view 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.
