On Monday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu took action by suspending his Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, over allegations of misappropriating social investment funds.
Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale conveyed that the suspension of Minister Betta Edu aligns with the government’s steadfast commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in managing the country’s wealth. Ngelale released a statement on Monday outlining the government’s stance.
“President Bola Tinubu has suspended Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, from office effective immediately,” announced Ngelale. He further revealed that an inquiry into the actions of the suspended minister has been ordered by the president.
Betta Edu was one of the 48 ministers appointed by President Tinubu in August 2023.
This move follows President Tinubu’s earlier suspension on January 2 of the head of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) due to alleged involvement in a fraud amounting to over 37 billion naira ($41 million) in the social investment fund managed under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
