Following the suspension of the National Co-ordinator /Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Agency (NSIPA), Ms Halima Shehu, a group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the aiges of PDP Forever Initiative has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow thorough investigation of the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu over the controversial missing funds.
The PDP group also faulted the suspension of Ms Halima Shehu without any investigation into the matter, urging the President to reverse the suspension.
The NSIPA National Coordinator was reportedly suspended on Tuesday over alleged missing funds.
Addressing a press conference Wednesday in Abuja, President of the PDP group, Comrade Obande Gideon Obande, called on “President Tinubu to quickly intervene and address Nigerians if truly there is a missing funds and how the funds got missing. Investigation will reveal the real culprits who is stealing or trying to steal public funds.”
According to Obande, It is wrong for Mr President to approve the suspension of Ms Hailma Shehu and immediately replaced her with a yoruba man instead of the most senior civil servant in her agency which is from the North.
“It is also very undeserving that Mr President would approve a suspension of his appointee without investigation or setting up investigative panel to unravel the allegations that must have led to the suspension.
“However, information at our disposal revealed that the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation may have question to answer as Ms Halima had worked with her for three years when she was the APC National Woman Leader and possibly influenced her appointment at NSIPA. What must have gone wrong?”
The group also accused the the Humanitarian minister of allegedly “attempting to cover up some misdoings in government.
“As opposition coalition, we raised alarm toward the end of 2023 that the Honourable Minister Betta Edu may have connived with some highly placed persons to undermine the Tinubu’s administration of Renewed Hope Agenda which was evident in the manner ficticious names were been enrolled in the National social register and sub-change Nigerians who are to be the direct Beneficiary of the social investment program.
“Today, the Honourable Minister is enjoying her holiday while the National Co-ordinator and CEO of NSIPA is being sacrificed. If the government is sincere, the Honourable Minister should have been suspended alongside the National Co-ordinator and CEO of NSIPA to pave way for effective investigation.
“Because we are aware that there have been direct dealings of the Minister with the coordinators instead of reporting to the National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, they report directly to the Minister, thereby neglecting the people of Nigeria.
“Let it be on record, that once government is formed, it is the responsibility of all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliations, it is of our interest as Nigerians to set the record straight especially now that the federal government is derailing.
“We are aware that the Federal Government is not ready to address some critical issues raised by Nigerians like the ongoing debate on the Bogus 28. trillion Naira 2024 budget and it’s realization, the expansion of the National Social Register which the Minister of Humanitarian is handling unilaterally without due process and the availability of the unapplication form to deserving Nigerians.”