Some concern Nigerians have commended the President, Bola Tinubu for suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu from office with immediate effect over money scandal.
The Minister who came under heavy criticism on Friday after a memo surfaced where she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer fund to a private account owned by Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
The President in line with his avowed commitment to uphold highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the Nigeria, suspended the Minister while directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Ministry.
According to the statement released by the President aide on Monday, the suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and also directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.
Furthermore, the President 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.
In 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.
Reacting to this development, the aide to the former President, Reno Omokri on X (formerly known as Twitter) commended the President for having the courage to suspend the Minister with immediate effect and for going further to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate her.
He said, “This is as it should be. The Presidential directive shows that the President is alive to his responsibilities and will not tolerate corruption. Additionally, it sends a message to other Ministers and public officials that negative actions will produce negative consequences.
“Many Nigerians hope that after the investigation by the EFCC, there would be a speedy trial and not a cover-up as was widely observed during the disastrous Buhari administration, where several ministers and high officials who soiled their hands were let off with a slap on the wrist.
“Finally, it is expected that the probe will also extend to the minister’s predecessor, during whose tenure, odious and corrupt practices were rampant in the social investment programmes of the Buhari regime”, Omokri concluded.
Also, Adamu Garba on X (formerly Twitter) thanked the President, saying that Tinubu saved Nigerians from a lot of embarrassment with this action.
He said, “I’ve had to face many critical questions on this particular case while holidaying in Yola. In fact, I went to the radio for a different program, but I found myself bombarded by this issue simply because we were at the forefront of campaign promoters for the Presidency”.
Adamu Garba who assured the audience that President Tinubu would do something about this for the betterment of Nigerians, said “and now it is done. Thank you, Mr. President”, he hailed.
Wale S. Akerele on X said, “I hate when people can’t come out and speak the truth. Why some people are saying they are trying to blackmail Baba Tinubu’s government by removing Dr Edu Betta, guys if fraud is not committed nobody will find evidence.
“We won’t tolerate corruption in this administration don’t you people know that if Tinubu fails all his die-hard supporters have failed as well that is how I feel. I voted for him and if he failed I have failed as well. This time around we must get it right Asiwaju must succeed that is all I Wale S. Akerele wants”, he said.
Akerele called on the Presidential Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila always look out for the President because Tinubu’s success will help Gbajabiamila to become Lagos state governor.
Media Bypass News has reported earlier that the Information and Orientation Minister said govt is determined to unravel the truth as it relates to this matter, and assured that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished.
