The suspension was confirmed by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, in a statement provided to journalists.

The statement read, “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.”

President Tinubu had initiated a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged scandal on Sunday and pledged to “decisively punish” those found responsible for any breaches or infractions uncovered during the investigations.

Various groups and individuals, including the Peoples Democratic Party, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Femi Falana, SAN, the Yoruba Youth Assembly, and other civil society groups, called for an unbiased probe into the leaked memo by Minister Betta Edu.

The memo instructed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585 million into the private bank account of a project accountant in the ministry, Bridget Oniyelu.

Despite the minister’s assertion that the payment was intended for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, the allegations sparked public outrage.

The Media Assistant to the Minister, Rasheed Olarenwaju, defended the payment, stating that it was legal within the civil service for such transactions to be made into the private accounts of staff members, particularly project accountants.

During a press briefing at the State House Conference Center, Abuja, Edu revealed that one of the initiatives involves the ongoing disbursement of N25,000 to impoverished households in Nigeria through the conditional cash transfer program.

This financial support will continue for the next three months, totaling N75,000 per household, to cushion the economic impact caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.

Additionally, this initiative is expected to contribute to lifting 61 million households out of poverty.

Edu emphasized the meticulous verification process to ensure that the funds reach the intended beneficiaries.

The government is identifying recipients, validating their identities through their National Identification Numbers (NINs) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), and ensuring prompt disbursements.

The minister pointed out that this program represents 15 million households, equivalent to approximately 61 million individuals. Beyond this, President Tinubu’s administration plans to create jobs for millions of Nigerians through various strategies.

These measures include offering zero-interest loans to markets, petty traders, and market women, as well as supporting poor farmers through initiatives like the End Hunger Project and the Good Nigeria Project.

To tackle the multi-dimensional issue of poverty effectively, Edu highlighted the importance of collaboration between her ministry and others, such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Agriculture.

These partnerships will address various aspects of poverty, including access to education, quality healthcare, and employment opportunities.

The retreat held at the State House Conference Center has provided valuable insights into governance, leadership, and managing government affairs, setting the agenda for the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Edu emphasized that President Tinubu’s vision is to reach millions of Nigerians, create jobs, ensure food security, eradicate poverty, promote good governance, combat corruption, and uphold the rule of law.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and its affiliated agencies are committed to fulfilling these mandates and delivering results for the benefit of Nigeria’s citizens.

This summons came about after a motion of urgent public importance was presented in the green chamber on Tuesday.

The House expressed deep concerns about the program’s management and transparency, prompting them to demand clarity.

The Minister will be expected to provide a comprehensive account of data collection and the distribution of funds within the program.

For context, it’s worth noting that President Tinubu launched the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer for 15 million households in October.

Minister Betta Edu disclosed that these households encompass 62 million Nigerians and are set to receive N25,000 every month for three months, amounting to N75,000 for each beneficiary.

Her remarks came during the launch of the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Minister Edu underscored that the CCT program forms an integral part of the initiatives spearheaded by the administration led by President Bola Tinubu to mitigate the immediate repercussions of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

She further explained that this novel initiative would empower the most economically disadvantaged and vulnerable segments of society, functioning as a means of uplifting a significant portion of its beneficiaries.

Notably, the launch event included the symbolic distribution of cheques to several households.

The CCT program, as initially announced by President Tinubu in his Independence Day address, involves providing N25,000 per month for three consecutive months to each of the 15 million households, aiming to alleviate poverty levels.

The transfers under the CCT are contingent on specific actions, such as sending children to school or maintaining regular health check-ups.

Minister Edu reiterated that the provision of N25,000 to each beneficiary would bolster their purchasing power and enhance their economic prospects within society.

She also highlighted the forthcoming introduction of the N30,000 Iyaloja loan scheme, designed to support small-scale traders and contribute to economic revitalization and empowerment.

At the event, five beneficiaries, namely Larai Suleiman, Shuaiabu Hassana, Sariki Gamu, Okor Jonah, and Hameed Isiaka, received their first monthly installment payment.

Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, assured that the CCT program would adhere to transparent practices in line with established global standards.

He emphasized that the program includes mechanisms for disclosing all beneficiaries upon request.

The World Bank Country Representative, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, expressed the institution’s readiness to support Nigeria in the bold economic move of reallocating funds away from fuel subsidies.

He stressed the bank’s commitment to assisting its 189 member states in eradicating poverty among their populations.

Chaudhuri identified the CCT program as a part of the palliatives pledged by the president to alleviate the immediate effects of the subsidy removal.

He urged relevant authorities to ensure that the funds reached the most vulnerable segments of society to effectively achieve its objectives.

She made this declaration during her appearance on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics” program, several months after the Federal Government ceased the payment of petroleum subsidies.

The minister expressed optimism about receiving approval from the President for the initiative during the current week.

She revealed, “With the approval from the President which we hope to get this week, on the 17th of October, we will be officially launching the conditional cash transfer to 15m households in Nigeria.”

Edu elaborated on the ministry’s efforts to collaborate with stakeholders nationwide in order to establish a credible register of beneficiaries.

She emphasized the importance of ensuring that those on the national social register genuinely qualify, falling within the income bracket of under $1.95 per day.

Edu acknowledged that some individuals on the register may have either passed away or experienced improvements in their economic status.

As a result, she stated that a verification exercise is underway to clean up the register and ensure its accuracy.

“To achieve this, we are currently conducting fieldwork to clean up the data and perform a thorough verification. We are cross-referencing data such as the BVN and NIM to verify the authenticity of these individuals,” Edu explained.

She also mentioned the inclusion of biometrics and the capturing of household heads and their respective household pictures, along with a numbering system for easy verification against the register.