•Tinubu and Betta Edu
Indications emerged today that the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu was not allowed to see President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
This is as a Civil Society Organisation, Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative in Nigeria (CSCHEI) has commended President Tinubu for his swift action in suspending the Minister and ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, to thoroughly investigate the matter.
President Tinubu had ordered the suspension of the minister following controversies about financial transactions she authorised in her ministry, reports Vanguard.
She was accused of financial infractions bordering on the approval of payments of about N585 million into the private accounts of civil servants, who are said to be the accountants in charge of grants for vulnerable Nigerians.
The minister had arrived at the presidential villa in Abuja shortly after her suspension was announced, perhaps with the intention of having a physical discussion with the president.
While she was able to clear all security checks up to the president’s office, she was blocked from seeing him in his office.
It was also learnt that, apart from being unable to have an audience with President Tinubu, her access tag to the villa was immediately withdrawn from her by the president’s security.
Besides that, she was also ferried out of the president’s office in a Toyota Hilux truck belonging to State House security.
It was not immediately clear whether she was later allowed to use her official vehicle out of the presidential villa premises.
Meanwhile, reacting to the suspension of the minister, the Director General of CSCHEI, Kunle Yusuff, said CSOs in Nigeria will not accept any administrative rascality or abuse of power by any appointees of the president.
According to him, “Many Non- Governmental Organizations and Community Based Organisations have been vigorously developing various working concepts to align with Mr. President Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This is one of the reasons CSCHEI has set up a working template to evaluate and monitor 2024 budgets as approved by the President. Suspending the Hon. Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviations is a strong warning to all government officials.
“CSCHEI will definitely work with relevant agencies to make sure that investigations into the allegation that led to her suspension are logically concluded. It’s not only embarrassing but ridiculous hearing such financial administrative infractions.
“Seriously speaking, we have seen a president travelling around the globe marketing Nigeria Investment programmes. Hopefully, this may further increase Nigeria investment indexes. This is not the time for any government officials to be indulged in financial misconduct that may negate the integrity of this administration.”
Yussuf said CSCHEI has already concluded plans to roll out training for NGOs and CBOs on “intelligence gathering, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation, the reporting system, government policy’s initiatives, radicalization, and extremism.
“These are the means to strengthen the Civil Society Organization in Nigeria to be proactive, strategic, and tactical in its daily responsibilities.”
