Stay informed with the most recent developments surrounding the Betta Edu scandal and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The Informant247 News provides comprehensive coverage on the suspended Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and other key players involved in the controversy.
Tinubu suspends NSIPA programmes:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspends all programs administered by NSIPA, including N-Power, due to operational deficiencies and irregularities. Initial suspension lasts six weeks.
8 controversies leading to Betta Edu’s suspension:
- N585.2m Scandal: The most recent scandal involves the alleged diversion of N585.2m from the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) to a private account, leading to President Tinubu’s suspension of Dr. Betta Edu.
- N3bn Loot Allegations: Dr. Edu faces allegations of looting billions from NSIPA, implicating her in an N37.1bn scandal, with accusations of fraudulent schemes and fund diversion.
- Appointments into Non-Existent Entities: Controversies arose when Dr. Edu made appointments into defunct World Bank projects, including entities that no longer existed, as exposed by Daily Trust.
- N72.3m Flight Tickets Scandal: A leaked memo in December 2023 revealed Dr. Edu’s approval of N72.3m for flight tickets and expenses for an event in Kogi, a state without an airport.
- Nepotism and Cronyism: Allegations surfaced regarding non-transparent appointments, favoritism towards medical colleagues, and a lack of adherence to standard hiring processes.
- 9 Months Unpaid N-Power Stipends: In December 2023, controversy erupted over Dr. Edu’s ministry’s failure to settle nine months’ stipends for N-Power beneficiaries, leading to protests.
- Conditional Cash Transfer Criticism: Dr. Edu faced criticism over the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, with concerns about beneficiary selection, fund transparency, and alleged politicization.
- Usurpation of Power: Dr. Edu’s appointments into NSIPA, which should be made by the agency’s coordinator, sparked controversy, raising questions about proper procedures.
Betta Edu’s second chance plea disputed by Femi Pedro:
Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, refutes claims that he pleaded with Nigerians to give Betta Edu a second chance after her suspension, following revelations of financial misconduct.
EFCC Summons 20 Directors Amidst Humanitarian Ministry Probe:
In an escalation of the investigation, EFCC summons 20 senior directors and officials from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation based on ICPC recommendations. The ongoing probe aims to unravel financial irregularities and misconduct within the ministry.
Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding saga.