₦airaland Forum

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, has taken charge of the affairs of the Ministry following the suspension of the minister, Betta Edu.

This development is in line with the directive issued by President Bola Tinubu, who suspended Edu on Monday over her alleged involvement in a N585 million fraud.

The minister has been accused of paying public funds into private accounts.

.ng gathered that Enitan assumed responsibility of the Ministry after a letter to that effect from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was given to him Monday night.

.ng recalls that Tinubu, through his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, had ordered the suspended minister to “hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation”.

“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,” Ngelale had said in a statement.

As debates continue to heat up over the involvement of Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in the scandalous contract at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Young Progressive Party, YPP, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the interior minister.

The party threatened that failure to suspend Tunji-Ojo within 48 hours, it would mobilize youths across the country to shut down Abuja on Monday, 15th January, 2024.

In an open letter addressed to President Tinubu Tuesday night and signed by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Emmanuel Bishop Amakiri, the YPP cited alleged “abuse of office” as its reason for calling for the head of Tunji-Ojo, saying it would deter him from further abusing public office.

“We have gathered evidence that a company owned by Minister Tunji Ojo, New Planet Project Limited, was paid a total of N438.1 million by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under the leadership of Dr. Betta Edu, for consultancy services.

“This payment was part of the N3 billion awarded to several consultants for the National Social Register contract, which was intended for cash transfers and social investment programs.

“The payments made to Minister Tunji Ojo’s company, New Planet Project Limited, include N279 million for the verification of the list and an additional N159 million for the same purpose.

“It is worth noting that the company, which was registered on March 3, 2009, with registration number 804833, has Minister Tunji Ojo and his wife, Abimbola, listed as directors, with Gbadamasi Gbadamasi Clement as the company’s secretary.

“We strongly believe that Minister Tunji Ojo’s actions are in direct violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the Code of Conduct law. Sections 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct law clearly prohibit public officers from engaging in conflicts of interest and participating in any business other than farming.

“It is a known fact that a contract of this magnitude could not have been approved except by the Federal Executive Council Meeting of which Minister Tunji Ojo is a Member.

“Minister Tunji Ojo, who knew he had an interest in the New Planet Project Limited, had deceived the Federal Executive Council into approving the contract for him without even informing the FEC that he is a shareholder in the said company; this is deceitful, mischievous and obtaining by false pretence”, the letter reads in part.

The party also accused one Thalis Apalowo, the Coordinator of the National Programme Manager for Grants for Vulnerable Groups, as a fronter for Tunji-Ojo in securing the contract.

It alleged that Apalowo was a Legislative Assistant to Hon. Tunji-Ojo during the 9th House of Representatives and that he was part of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betta Edu’s advance team “that received a total of N2,515,000 for DTA (Daily Travel Allowance) for five nights, local running expenses at 30% of DTA, flight tickets, and airport taxis to Kogi State, which does not have an airport”.

The party called on the President to immediately suspend Tunji-Ojo, while seeking a “comprehensive and independent investigation into the alleged misconduct, involving the appropriate authorities and agencies.”

The YPP urged Tinubu to initiate “appropriate legal actions against Minister Tunji Ojo”, to serve as a deterrent to others.

Recall that an award of contract for verification of beneficiary’s list in the empowerment programs undertaken by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was linked to a company owned by Hon. Tunji-Ojo.

However, the Interior Minister has cleared the air that he resigned the ownership of the company, New Planet Project Limited since 2019, when he won election into the House of Representatives.

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and former House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, has identified the secret to the president’s political rise.

Gbajabiamila linked Tinubu’s political rise to the ties he built with his colleagues when he was a senator in 1992.

He disclosed this during a reception organised for him and other members of the Forum of the All Progressives Congress, APC, former members of the House of Representatives.

Gbajabiamila thanked his former colleagues for organising the reception to honour them.

According to Gbajabiamila: “I will tell you one thing today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he may not know it, I have been around him for a long time, one of his greatest strengths and what catapulted him to where he is today were his former colleagues when he was a senator.

“So this is a constituency we must hold dear. We just shouldn’t burn bridges when we leave.”

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has threatened to sue President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if he fails to probe the alleged payment of N585,189,500.00 into a private account by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director of SERAP, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

.ng had reported that Betta Edu confirmed disbursing N585,189,500.00 meant for vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun states into a private account.

However, Edu insisted that the payment followed due process.

Meanwhile, SERAP said that the minister’s action was against Chapter 7, Section 713 of the Federal Government’s Financial Regulations 2009, which notes, ‘Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account’.

Accordingly, SERAP urged Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly and thoroughly conduct a probe.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest”.

Recall that Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, said Edu was not supposed to make N585,198,500.00 into a private account.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has visited the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in Owerri, Imo State.

Obasanjo discussed “issues of mutual interest” with Iwuanyanwu alongside other Ohanaeze leaders.

Addressing journalists, Friday, on the outcome of the visit, Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Okey Emuchay said the meeting was very symbolic and crucial as fruitful deliberations were held.

He said: “Issues of mutual interest were discussed. The PG informed Chief Obasanjo that Nigeria should erect monuments in his name for the sacrifices he has made.

“He recalled his role in ending the civil war with the slogan of no victor no vanquished; repayment of huge external debts and recovery of the economy during his time as President.

“He informed the former President that the Igbo nation will bestow honour on him appropriately.

“Remember that when Chief Obasanjo was President, he appointed several Igbo sons and daughters into his cabinet and other high profile positions. A sense of belonging was provided to the Igbo nation during that time.”

The end is yet to be seen in the alleged financial corruption scandal rocking the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as a document emerged that the Minister, Edu Betta allegedly disbursed N585,198,500.00 into a personal account.

According to a viral document signed by Edu directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Minister instructed the disbursement of N585,198,500.00 to one, Oniyelu Bridget.

The document also showed that the payment of the N585.198 million grant, meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, was made into Oniyelu’s account.

However, reacting to the development, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Rasheed Zubair said N585.198 million payment for the vulnerable group followed due process.

He stated that the payment of the grant to the account of an individual, Oniyelu Bridget, was because the fellow currently serves as the Project Accountant of Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

He explained that the payment of the N585.198 million grant was meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states.

“For the avoidance, the said N585m was approved, and it is meant to implement grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.

“We must note that GVG was first launched in Kogi State, where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023. Kogi already happened 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 the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is implementing.

“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 the same funds legally and retire the same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed”, he stated.

Meanwhile, the development caused a stir on social media as Nigerians wondered why a huge sum of the Federal Government’s money would be paid to an individual’s account.

.ng gathered that public sector financial regulations of 2009 prohibit the payment of public funds to the account of a private individual.

Section 713 of the law states, “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account. An officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.”

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu barely four days ago suspended the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, an agency under Edu, over alleged financial misappropriation.

Consequently, Halima Shehu was detained and drilled by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over an alleged N44 billion fraud.

Following an investigation, EFCC froze N30 billion moved from NSIPA’s accounts.

Similarly, a former Minister of the Ministry, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, was invited by the EFCC over a financial scandal allegedly carried out through one contractor, James Okwete.

The presidency has assured that President Bola Tinubu listens to Nigerians and feels their pulse.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, says the president always acknowledged the problems Nigerians are going through.

Onanuga said the president’s position to ameliorate the hardship of Nigerians was responsible for the 50 percent transport fare rebate during the Yuletide season.

Posting on X, he said Tinubu would do anything to ensure Nigerians don’t suffer.

He wrote: “President Tinubu listens to Nigerians and feels the pulse of the people all the time. He reads newspapers daily, reads the columnists, and is able to distill public opinion.

“In many of his engagements, he has always acknowledged the temporary problems people are going through and is always receptive to ideas about ameliorating the situation and giving succour to the people.

“That was the reason behind his decision that the Federal Government bear 50 percent of the transport costs for those going home, by road, for the Yuletide.

“Besides, President Tinubu is naturally a man of compassion. He will do anything to ensure that our people do not suffer.”

The Naira on Thursday recorded its first gain in 2024.

Data from FMDQ showed that the Naira appreciated and traded at N895.23 per US dollar on Thursday compared to N1,035.12 per US dollar on Wednesday.

The gain represented currency appreciated 13.51 per cent against the previous day’s figure.

Meanwhile, at the parallel market, the Naira dropped marginally to exchange at N1230/$1, representing a 0.81 per cent decline from the N1,220 per dollar it quoted on Wednesday.

The development comes as forex turnover at the close of the trading was $68.49 million, representing a 20.06 per cent decrease compared to the previous day.

.ng reported that the Nigerian federal government received the $2.25 billion foreign exchange support loan from the African Import-Export Bank barely a week ago.

Experts within the financial sector predicted that a $2.25 billion forex loan from Afrexim would help stabilize the FX market.

The Trade Union Congress, TUC, has urged the Federal Government to implement all agreements reached with organised labour in 2023, especially the national minimum wage.

Festus Osifo, TUC President, said this in a 2024 New Year message he jointly signed with Nuhu Toro, Secretary General of the union, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The message is titled “Our Hope is not Renewed Yet.”

Osifo, who said that TUC had in 2023 strived to ensure that social dialogue with the Federal Government prevailed, accused the government of failing to implement basic agreements reached with labour.

He said labour had insisted that the October 2, 2023, agreements be notarised by the court.

According to him: “However, the government has serially violated the agreements. For instance, Item 2 states that: ‘A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.’ Today, three months after, no such committee has been set up and this is our experience with this government on at least two previous agreements reached from June.

“TUC has resolved to demand from the Tinubu administration that in 2024, all agreements between labour and government should be implemented. This includes the payment of the monthly N35,000 wage award to public servants in the local government, state and federal services. This must be implemented until a new national minimum wage is implemented.”

President Bola Tinubu says part of the recently signed N28.7 trillion 2024 budget component is N100 billion allocated for school feeding programmes.

He made this statement on Monday while signing the 2024 appropriation bill into law in the State House in Abuja.

Tinubu stated that the provision would serve as a stimulant to encourage school attendance and reduce the problem of out-of-school children.

“One of the priority areas of the bill we just passed is the N100 billion provision for feeding school children. I believe that is a stimulant that will encourage enrollment and address malnutrition among school children.

“I will be meeting with local governments at sub-national levels so that we can collaborate and jointly implement an all-inclusive programme,” he said.

The President also confirmed that the christened “Renewed Hope” budget is anchored on reducing the recurrent expenditure but increasing capital expenditure.

Recall that in December, Tinubu ordered the reintroduction of the school feeding programme and mandated its transfer from the Humanitarian Ministry to the Education Ministry.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said the National Assembly will support the 2024 budget implementation process to ensure it delivers on its expectation to Nigerians.

Hon Abbas, who was physically present while Tinubu was assenting to the 2024 budgetary appropriations on Monday, January 1, said Mr President in his address, mentioned on a lighter note, that the promise of delivering the dividends of democracy based on the 2024 budget is not a beer palour promise, that it will be delivered and it is a budget that will lay the foundation of the renewed hope agenda.

Abbas said, “I believe this is the budget that the Nigerian people are waiting for. This is the budget the Nigerian people are yearning for, we’ll make sure that together, we’ll be able to deliver it well.

“I would also want to take you a little back for you to know the progress we have made.

“Mr President has signed two other bills. The first one is the supplementary appropriation bill of 2023, which he has accepted to extend it by 90 days. So, it will continue to work concurrently with the 2024 budget up to March 31.

“He has also approved the 2023 main budget for it to also concurrently operate with the capital component of the 2024 budget up to March 31, 2024.

“Another landmark achievement we had was also approving the securitisation of the ways and means which has effectively brought to an end these controversial means and ways of borrowing money. And he has assured Nigerians that this will be the last of this kind of ugly incident.”

A former Senator, who represented Abia Central district, Darlington Nwokocha has again cried out about the judgement of the Appeal Court which sacked him.

Nwokocha, who was elected as a Senator in February on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, was on November 4, sacked by the Appeal Court which declared Col Austin Akobundu (Rtd) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the rightful winner of the Abia Central contest.

But two months after his sack, Nwokocha is still hurt by his removal.

Speaking in a live radio interview on Family Love 99.9 FM Umuahia, Nwokocha said he was still surprised that the Appeal Court removed him from office, despite his wide acceptance and popularity among the people of Abia Central.

He also expressed surprise that the Appeal Court refused to reverse itself on his case despite the “evidences” he presented to the judges.

According to him, the legal points used by the Appeal Court in sacking him were “inconsistent with legal proceedings” and should not have been used.

“I am still surprised that somebody can make such a judgement. I am still surprised till now”, Nwokocha lamented.

He further explained that his hope of being reinstated by the Supreme Court was rejected by the apex Court on the grounds that his matter should end in Appeal Court.

Nwokocha, who was recently received by his people, said he has left everything to God.

The former Senator equally commended the political rapport existing between Governor Alex Otti and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, saying that the LP and the APC bigwigs’ brotherhood was needed for the development of Abia State.

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, said that democracy must be progressive and inclusive with a primary focus on tackling poverty through the provision of job opportunities for youths and quality education for all Nigerian children.

Tinubu expressed support for the establishment of the National Institute of Progressive Studies while receiving members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Thursday, in Lagos.

The President noted that the Institute is expected to carry out diligent research and educate all party members on the principles of democracy and good governance while providing a distinct identity for the party.

”Democracy has faced challenges in the past, but I believe in a promising future for our country. We will deliver it.

“I am committed to supporting a strong and ideologically-determined democracy that is progressive, inclusive, and focused on eliminating poverty while providing quality education for our children.

”Collaboration with various government arms is crucial, and I commend the leadership of our party for working hard to promote these essential ideals,” the President stated.

The Presidency has said that there was no way President Bola Tinubu would keep quiet and allow crises in the states to escalate.

This is following his intervention in the political crises in Ondo and Rivers State.

Observers had claimed Tinubu’s actions were undermining the government of such states.

But his media adviser, Ajuri Ngelale believes it was a move in the right direction.

Ngelale said Tinubu will continue to intervene in states battling political crises if such development will affect the country.

“That has nothing to do with, of course, political development, destabilization of a particular region or state or subnational entity that could potentially turn into a national conflagration,” he said on Channels Television’s News Night, a pre-recorded show that airs on Mondays.

“If the President sees that, he is not going to sit by as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and fold his hands and keep quiet. I think that is what he has done.

“That is to say if you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and your primary objective is to make sure that the Nigerian people are safe; that they are able to operate in an environment that is stable and does not place them in any form of insecurity, then you know that if a political crisis is devolving into something that is generating manmade insecurity, then the president needs to step in and he took that wise decision to step in,” the presidential aide maintained.

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has predicted Nigeria’s break up in 2035 if President Bola Tinubu fails to restructure the country.

Primate Ayodele said Biafra activist, Nnamdi Kanu and Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho would have no hands in Nigeria’s break up.

Addressing journalists on Friday in Lagos, the cleric said the break up will happen naturally because citizens would be tired of staying together.

According to Ayodele: “We must be very watchful because Nigeria will break up in 2035, only God will stop it.

“If this government fails to restructure Nigeria, the country will break up.

“Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho will have no hands in Nigeria’s break up, the country will break up naturally.

“People will get tired of staying together and they will ask for a referendum that will make it to happen.”