By Egens Sunday Ode
President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Minister of Humanitaian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, from office.
The suspension according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, takes immediate effect.
Recall that the minister has been embattled in recent days following allegations of financial misdeeds against her in the handling of the finance of her ministry.
According to the statement by Ngelale, President Tinubu’s action is in keeping with his avowed commitment to maintain the highest level of transparency in the management of the nation’s commonwealth.
The President has also directed a panel headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy to commence a thorough investigation into the allegations innorder to restore confidence in the NSIP initiative.
The statement reads: “In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
“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.
“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.
“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 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.
“These directives of the President take immediate effect.”
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