Crisis In Humanitarian Ministry Gets Messier

In a letter that has been leaked to the media, Dr Betta Edu, the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation allegedly asked the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to divert N585 million meant for poverty alleviation in four state to a private account.

The ministry and the NSIP have been mired in controversy as President Bola Tinubu recently suspended Halima Shehu as National Coordinator and CEO, National Social Investment Programme Agency over alleged financial misappropriation to the tune of N44 billion.

She was later questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. At the same time, the former minister in charge of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq is also wanted for questioning by the anti-graft commission.

Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, National N-POWER Programme Manager, was appointed in an acting capacity as NC/CEO, pending the conclusion of the investigation after Shehu’s suspension.

In the latest controversy, the minister in a response to the stories published by an online medium alleging the payment of the funds into a private account owned by Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, a project manager, has send due process was followed in making the payment.

The funds are meant to be paid as grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun.

N219,429,750.00 of the funds was meant for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom State; N73,828,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Cross River State; N219,462,250.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Lagos State while N72,468,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Ogun State.

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In its reaction, the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation noted with dismay, on 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 for four states, which is currently being circulated in the social media.

Rasheed Zubair, special adviser on media and publicity to the minister said it is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear the Dr Betta Edu, and stain her integrity following the Federal Government ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud in NSIPA. These elements, he said, have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure.

This latest vile effort, he said, is another infantile blackmail doomed for evisceration.

He said, “For the avoidance, 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 the 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.”

He said Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance and it is Legal in civil service for a staff, the Project accountant to be paid and use same funds legally and retire same with all receipts and evidence after project or Programme is completed.

Zubair said the evil motive of the mischief-makers behind the circulation of the memo is well-known and should be ignored.

And of note, he said, is the fact that since assumption of duty about five months ago, the minister has religiously visited different parts of the country like Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, FCT, Lagos Cross River among others  and this is done to ensure she delivers on her mandate and she has remained focused, unbiased and committed to duty.

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ideato North/South federal constituency, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, has said that the refusal of the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to compromise on her principles has helped in exposing the alleged N44 billion fraud at the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

Recall that on Tuesday, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) flooded the Maitama office of NSIPA shortly after reports of the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and National Coordinator of the agency, Halima Shehu, over alleged financial malfeasance.

The EFCC is currently investigating ₦44billion allegedly moved from NSIPA’s accounts into private and corporate accounts linked to persons suspected as fronts.

Ugochinyere, in a statement, hailed the anti-graft agency’s ongoing efforts in ensuring that the culprits were caught, tasking the EFCC to ensure that those found guilty are prosecuted.

The federal lawmaker also commended the Minister, Betta Edu, for leading reforms in the ministry within a short span of time.

He described as spurious allegations of involvement of the minister in the alleged N3 billion NSIPA fraud, saying that it was rather her stance not to compromise on her principles that helped in exposing the alleged N44billion fraud at NSIPA.