Tag: Dr. Betta Edu

Suspended Minister, Betta Edu Reacts As Prayer Groups Hold Protests To Demand Reinstatement

The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has claimed that she did not authorise groups organising public prayers and protests in her support to seek her reinstatement to President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

This was stated in a release by her media aide, Rasheed Olanrewaju, alleging that Edu was confident and committed to the government’s ongoing inquiry and was fully collaborating with the authorities.

The suspended minister added that she did not sponsor any public activity and urged those behind the planned actions to stop it for smooth investigation into the allegations made against her.

The statement reads: “Following recent developments, would like to thank various stakeholders for their immense support since the unfortunate chain of events at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Dr Betta Edu remains committed and confident in the investigative process instituted by President Bola Tinubu and is cooperating fully with relevant authorities.

“The Minister has however been made aware of several efforts by individuals, supporters and others to organise public prayers, road walk and or protests to show public support.

“We wish to use this medium to state that such efforts are not approved by her or any member of her team and should be discontinued forthwith because such efforts – no matter how noble the intent, it could be seen as an attempt to pre-empt the outcome of the investigations, or can be hijacked by nefarious persons with ulterior motives.

“We kindly request that those with such plans should show their support by respecting the process and await the official findings and conclusions.

“Your understanding and cooperation are highly appreciated at this time. She is indeed grateful for the overwhelming support from Nigerians across all strata of society especially those most dear to her heart; the Poor and vulnerable.

“By God’s Grace, she will be back to continue her selfless service to humanity, especially to the poorest of the poor whose prayers have kept her strong thus far.”

January 22, 2024
Betta Edu: Why Youths Aren’t Fit To Lead Nigeria – Daddy Freeze

Media icon Daddy Freeze has expressed his viewpoint that older corrupt politicians should retain power instead of transferring leadership to younger individuals.

He made these remarks during an Instagram live session following the suspension of Minister Betta Edu over alleged fraud, emphasizing that the lack of experience led to her involvement in corruption within a short period.

Freeze suggested that older politicians have a better understanding of the systems, while he criticized youths for potentially mishandling the system if in power, stating,

“I’d rather have an experienced older individual comprehend the system than a young person who might recklessly exploit it.”

He further emphasized his preference for seasoned politicians like Tinubu, Atiku, or Obi over youths, suggesting some youths lack a moral compass.

He said, “I don’t want youths to lead Nigeria. I would rather have an old thief that understands the system than a young thief that would just steal the system senselessly. You never do minister work how many months dem Don catch you already.

“At least, other person wey dem dey catch, e dey reach like three years later. Someone who isn’t 40 yet, I’m 10 years older than her [Betta Edu]. She is a proper youth.

“Those you saying you don’t want old people, for me, all this old people whether it’s Tinubu, Atiku or Obi, I prefer them to youths. Nigerian youths? Some of them were born deficient of a conscience.”

January 10, 2024
Accountant General Refutes Payment Claims by Ministry, Citing Illegality in Private Account Transaction

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has refuted payment claims made by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, insisting that payment into private account was illegal and in contravention of civil service procedures.

The OAGF said that transaction was illegal and emphasizes adherence to established procedures for financial transactions after Ministry’s request for payment clarification.

A statement released by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and signed by Bawa Mokwa, Director (Press) addressed reports regarding a request made by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for payment disbursement to vulnerable groups in certain states.

The AGF, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, clarified the operational protocols of the OAGF in the wake of media speculations.

Dr. Madein categorically stated that the OAGF does not execute payments on behalf of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for the execution of projects and programs. Instead, allocations are disbursed to self-accounting MDAs in alignment with budgetary stipulations, and these entities are solely responsible for the execution and financial disbursement of their respective projects.

The AGF emphasized that while the Ministry in question did forward a payment request, the OAGF did not facilitate the transaction. Instead, the Ministry was duly advised on the proper procedures to adhere to when effecting such payments, ensuring compliance with established financial protocols.

Clarifying the payment procedure, Dr. Madein highlighted that disbursements are typically processed by the relevant Ministries as independent entities, emphasizing that funds are not to be transferred en masse to individual accounts under the guise of a project’s accountant. She stressed the necessity of routing such payments directly to verified beneficiaries through their authenticated bank accounts.

Expressing a steadfast commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability in the management of public finances, Dr. Madein urged MDAs to consistently uphold requisite measures in conducting financial transactions.

January 6, 2024
Resign, Submit To EFCC Probe, Huriwa Advices Minister Edu

The embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, has been advised to resign or excuse herself from duty for some time so she can submit herself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigations.

This is following the Federal Government ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud investigation in NSIPA as it concerns the public fund she allegedly warehoused in a private individual’s bank account.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) made this advice, premising on the strength of the public sector financial regulations of 2009, which prohibits the payment of public funds to the account of a private individual.

Specifically, HURIWA said it is double standard if the president suspended his appointee heading the social investment coordinating office for exactly the allegations of paying in public funds worth over N34 billion as alleged by EFCC into private accounts, but only for the cabinet level minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to be going about the public space seeking justification for also directing that public fund be paid into a private account no matter the status of that account holder.

It calls on the President and the EFCC to use a universal yardstick in the enforcement of the anti-graft laws since the law shouldn’t be made to be afraid of certain individuals because they are senior national figures in the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“We are not Accusing the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of committing any infractions, but based on the media statements that her office has issued so far, the attempt to convince Nigerians that it is lawful to keep public fund in private account is just like the polemic promoted by one erstwhile civilian governor of Kano State in the second Republic.

“It is incongruous and indeed puerile to say that on one hand, the EFCC arrested one official of the same government over allegations of payments of public funds into private accounts but on the same breath, a cabinet level minister is inundating the public space with her submission that keeping public money in private account of someone heading a certain portfolio, is appropriate.

“This sounds illogical and fallacious and by the way, if as the Minister argued that under a certain civil service rule, public funds can be kept under private accounts, why then does the financial regulations Act governing public service in Nigeria say the exact opposite?”

It recalled that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has cried out to Nigerians over what she described as “disgruntled elements” trying to stain her hard earned integrity following the Federal Government ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud investigation in NSIPA.

The minister said these elements have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure by displaying on social media a memo from the ministry to the Accountant-General of the Federation approving for payment, of the sum of N585,189,500.00 Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups, (GVGs), for four states, which is currently being circulated in the social media.

In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Rasheed Zubair, she explains; “For the avoidance of doubt, the said N585,198,500.00 was approved, and it is meant for the implementation of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.

“We must, however, note that GVG was first launched in Kogi state where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023, Kogi in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.

“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the federal government, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,” the statement contained.

In this latest development, Dr. Edu is urging Nigerians to discountence these allegations claiming that “It is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear her image and stain her integrity following the Federal Government ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud in NSIPA.

January 6, 2024