The Attention of the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu has been drawn to a spurious allegations suspected to have been sponsored by some fifth columnists aimed at dragging the hard earned reputation and integrity of the Honourable Minister into the ongoing investigations of NSIPA Scandal by the anti- graft agency.
Ordinarily, there is no substance in the said publication currently in some online media and does not deserve a response,but there is need to set the record straight for Nigerians and followers of the current development in NSIPA Under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
There was no time the Minister, Dr. Betta Edu requested for any fund ,talk-less of withdrew any amount of money to the tune of N3billion since assumption of office as the Minister from National Social Investment Programme Agency’s (NSIPA)coffer in the last Four months, Albeit one month quoted in the said sponsored ‘Fake News’.
The Verification of the National Social Register as quoted in the said publication online was approved not only by Mr President ,but also by the Federal Executive Council of the Federal Republic of Nigeria inline with the Renewed Hope Mandate to expand the NSR as well as imbue it with integrity.
The conclusion of the well publicised Verification exercise led to the expansion of the National Social Register and commencement of payment Sequentially directly from the CBN to various beneficiaries.
For the records, all the Programmes embarked by the Ministry under the Present Minister, Dr Betta Edu, thus far, including Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Grants for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) and others secured the approval of Mr President.
Again, Let it be known that there was no time, the Ministry not (Dr Betta)withdrew any fund from NSIPA account let alone N3 Billion without due diligence, and painstaking approval from the appropriate authorities .
The Honourable Minister wish to inform the general public that she has no hand in the current travail of the leadership of NSIPA, therefore her good name should not be dragged into the ongoing suspension and investigations as approved by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The responsibility of Providing soccur to vulnerable Nigerians and pulling 50 millions out of poverty index within 42 months inline with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has taken the Minister across the length and breath of Nigeria and is achievable.
Therefore, the Media(Online and Conventional) should not be used to drag the good name of the Honourable Minister into the current Investigation in a bid to divert the anti-graft and Nigerians Attention.
Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair(ANIPR),Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Honourable Minister, FMHAPA.
04/12/2024
