Betta Edu: Perm Sec assumes leadership of Ministry of Poverty Alleviation, Humanitarian Affairs

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

Following the suspension of Betta Edu, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has assumed leadership of the Ministry’s operations.

This action follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive. On Monday, Edu was suspended due to her suspected involvement in a N585 million scam.

The minister is alleged to have transferred public monies into personal bank accounts.

According to information obtained, Enitan took over as the Ministry’s leader after receiving a letter on Monday night from the Secretary of the Federation’s office.

Recall that Tinubu gave the suspended minister the order to “hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation” through his Special Advisor for Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

“She is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.

“Furthermore, the President has 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 on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes.

“To conclusively reform the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative,” Ngelale had said in a statement