President Bola Tinubu has suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, wit immediate effect over a financial scandal in which she was alleged to have directed that the sum of N585m be paid into a private account.
The suspension was announced by The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Ajuri Ngelale in a statement issued on Monday.
Dr Edu is also directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Ngelale said the suspension is “in line with his 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.”
According to the President’s aide, the suspended minister is mandated to cooperate with the investigating authorities
“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.” Ngelale said