Another scandal has been attached to the name of minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.
The latter accused to have perpetrated a N3bn fraud in National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA, is now battling a fresh scandal bordering on a leaked official letter from her ministry to the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein.
Report said it has her request to pay N585 million meant for poverty alleviation in four state to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, a project manager.
Explaining herself by proxy, via a statement her Special Adviser on Media, Rasheed Zubair authored.
He spoke on the issue and gave reasons for the awkward payment saying, “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 added that 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.
