Minister Edu has been under fire after she ordered the transfer of money from the government coffers to a private account.
Now, President Bola Tinubu has suspended the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
The president, in a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said the decision was in line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.
The president further directed the executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.
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According to the statement, the suspended minister has been directed to hand over to the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Also, she is further directed by the president to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.
Furthermore, the President 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 of the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes.
Also, it is required to conclusively reform the relevant institutions and programmes.
According to the presidency this will help determine bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.