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N585M Payment into Private Account: NEFGAD Asks for Suspension and Investigation of Beta Edu
N585M Payment into Private Account: NEFGAD Asks for Suspension and Investigation of Beta Edu
By: Michael Mike
Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Decelopment (NEFGAD) a public procurement advocacy group has urged President Bola Tinubu to be impatial in the face of massive corruption allegations rocking the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), insisting that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Beta Edu should equally be suspended and investigated just as NSIP CEO, Mrs Halima Shehu was treated.
A section of the media has reported how the Minister of Humanitarian Affiars and Poverty Alleviation through a memo dated 20th December, 2023 with reference number fmhapa/hq/ohm/s.208 directed the Accountant General of the Federation to make payments of N585,189,500 into a private UBA account 2003682151 belonging to one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.
In a statement signed and released to the press in Abuja on Saturday through its head of office, Mr Akingunola Omoniyi, NEFGAD said ‘’the recent development in the Humanitarian office has provided president Tinubu a golden opportunity to tell Nigerians and the whole world that he is ready and willing to tackle corruption in a fair, just and impartial manner by also applying same disciplinary measure (suspension) metted on NSIP CEO, Mrs Halima Shehu on the Minister for Humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Mrs Beta Edu’’
Akingunola noted that ‘’apart from the fact that Dr. Edu and Mrs. Halima Shehu are from different geographical divide of the country, the tendency and pattern of the allegations involving the duo are too identical and should not have attracted diffrent approaches and measures in dealing with them by the president.
‘’Directing payment of public fund into private account by a public officer is a serious procurent and fiscal malfeasance that attracts serious penalty under extant laws, regulations and rules including the public procurement, Fiscal Responsibility, Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences (ICPC), Code of Conduct Acts and the Anti-mobey Laundering (prevention and prohibition) Act.
Akingunola further stated that the Minister has serious questions to answer by Instructing payment of public fund into private accounts other than that of a legal entity who have duly participated in a competitive selection process and or are direct beneficiaries of a conditional grant scheme (in the case of vulnerable people as captured in the Ministry’s mandate).
The act depicts pure nepotism, favouritism, undue advantage conferment and criminal diversion, he averred. Hence, the group implored president Bola Tinubu to direct the suspension of the Dr. Beta Edu for thorough investigation by relevant anticorruption agencies with immediate effect failure which may call for massive advocacy and court action.
N585M Payment into Private Account: NEFGAD Asks for Suspension and Investigation of Beta Edu
Zulum Inaugurates Borno’s 2024 Hajj Committee
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has inaugurated the 2024 Hajj committee that would ensure the proper welfare of Pilgrims from the state during the forthcoming 2024 Hajj exercise.
Inaugurating the committee on Saturday at the council chamber of the government house in Maiduguri, Zulum assured improved welfare for all pilgrims from Borno State.
The 21-member committee would be chaired by the Senator representing Borno Central, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan.
The governor charged the committee members to work diligently towards meeting the expectations of pilgrims from Borno State.
He said, “I urge you to be dedicated in order to reduce some of the complaints by pilgrims.”
Zulum also noted that the pilgrim welfare board would be reorganised to become a commission to reduce the financial burden resulting from the pilgrimage activities by the government.
“We have to reorganise the Pilgrim Welfare Board; we shall convert the board to a commission. Establishing a commission reduces government spending and ensures more accountability and transparency,” Zulum said.
The governor also explained why the deputy governor, who has been the Chairman of the state Hajj committee for the last four years could not serve in that capacity this year.
Zulum said, “Since I assumed office as governor of Borno in 2019, the deputy governor has been the Chair of our Hajj committee. But this year, we decided to change because I am also going and don’t want to create a leadership vacuum in the state. He will oversee the affairs of the state in my absence.”
Responding, the committee’s Chairman, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, urged the committee members to consider the assignment a serious job involving issues of welfare, safety and the logistics involved from Maiduguri to Saudi Arabia and returning them to the country.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for finding them worthy and assured him of delivering on the task given to them.
Zulum Inaugurates Borno’s 2024 Hajj Committee
IED planted by ISWAP Kills 8 Civilian JTF Members In Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
At Least 8 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force have been killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by ISWAP terrorists in Gamborun Local Government Area of Borno State.
It was gathered that the victims instantly died after they stepped on a landmine suspected to have been planted by ISWAP on Saturday, April 27, 2024, on their way to Maiduguri from Gamborun Ngala.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that three other victims sustained various degrees of injuries.
The wounded were evacuated to the hospital while the nine CJTF who paid the supreme price were taken to their families for burial arrangements.
IED planted by ISWAP Kills 8 Civilian JTF Members In Borno
Zulum Approves Employment for 15 People with Disability
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum has approved the employment of 15 people with disability with bachelor’s degree certificates, NCEs, diplomas and vocational training certificates.
The governor gave the approval in Maiduguri on Friday night at the Government House.
He said: “I am delighted to note that despite your disability, you people are not lazy; you decided to pursue your education, and for this, I want to commend you.
“I directed the Commissioner of Education to process your application for employment for my approval immediately. Therefore, I want to bring to your kind notice that you should be on the payroll of Borno State Government effective 1st May, 2024, in sha Allah.”
He directed the commissioner of education, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, to review the activities of all the blind schools in Borno State in order to train more people with disability.
Zulum also ordered the Ministry of Education to work out modalities for introducing the teaching of special education courses at the College of Education in Bama.
“I am happy that they have obtained their qualifications in different specialisations. Let’s strengthen the College of Education in Bama to start delivering courses on special education,” Zulum ordered.
Earlier in his address, Borno State Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Association of the Blind, Mohammed Mustapha, expressed gratitude to Governor Zulum for approving employment for his members.
Zulum Approves Employment for 15 People with Disability
Zulum Inaugurates Borno’s 2024 Hajj Committee
IED planted by ISWAP Kills 8 Civilian JTF Members In Borno
Zulum Approves Employment for 15 People with Disability
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