Latest update on NPower, Betta Edu, Humanitarian Ministry Scandal for Jan. 12, 2024

Tinubu Halts N-Power and Three Other NSIPA Programs

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended all initiatives managed by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), including N-Power, as reported by IDOMAVOICE.

This decision is a response to an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct in the administration of the agency and its programs.

NSIPA oversees programs such as the renowned N-Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

Reports surfacing on Friday indicate that the initial suspension of these programs is slated to endure for six weeks.

A statement attributed to the Director of Information, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, highlights President Tinubu’s significant concerns regarding operational deficiencies and irregularities in the distribution of payments to the beneficiaries of these programs.

Femi Pedro Denies Seeking Second Chance for Suspended Minister Betta Edu

Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, has denied making a statement wherein he allegedly pleaded with Nigerians to grant a second chance to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu following the emergence of a memo in which she requested the transfer of N585 million to a private account from the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein.

Despite the purported statement claiming Pedro’s plea for a second chance, he refuted the assertion, stating that Edu would learn from her mistakes.

EFCC Summons 20 Directors and Officials from Humanitarian Ministry

In a significant development in the investigation into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned 20 senior directors and officials of the ministry for questioning.

Several officials reportedly underwent interrogation at the EFCC headquarters on Thursday, following a comprehensive investigation report and recommendations submitted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday.

A source revealed that the EFCC is probing officials in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, with about 20 director-generals and civil servants being interrogated as part of the ongoing investigation.