President Bola Tinubu has immediately suspended Nigerian Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office.
This followed the decision to investigate the alleged corruption issues that have emerged in her ministry, which have littered the media space in the last few days.
A statement announcing her suspension issued on Monday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President Media & Publicity) said the action 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.
Tinubu further directed 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 and one or more agencies thereunder.
The suspended minister was directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she was further directed to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.
Tinubu has further 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 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.