Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has suspended Dr. Betta Edu from her position as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation due to allegations of financial misconduct.
The suspension was announced in a statement released on January 8th by the President’s Special Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale. According to Ngelale, the move aligns with Tinubu’s commitment to integrity, transparency and accountability in governance.
“In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect,” the statement read.
“The President further directs 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.
“The suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.”
Tinubu directed Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to thoroughly investigate all financial transactions involving the Humanitarian Ministry and its agencies. Edu was instructed to fully cooperate with the probe and hand over duties to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary in the interim.
The President also assembled a panel headed by the Coordinating Minister of Economy and Finance to reform the social investment programs under Edu’s purview. The goal is to eliminate institutional weaknesses and restore public confidence in the initiatives.
Edu, who oversaw humanitarian relief and anti-poverty efforts, joins a growing list of top officials forced out due to graft allegations. Tinubu, inaugurated last May, has vowed to crack down on entrenched corruption.
The extent of the allegations against Edu are unclear. But Tinubu deemed them serious enough to immediately remove the Minister from office pending the EFCC investigation outcome.
