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Tinubu Deserves Commendation For Suspending Betta Edu, says Atiku
Tinubu Deserves Commendation For Suspending Betta Edu, says Atiku
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has commended President Bola Tinubu on the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
In a statement by his Special Assistant, Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday, Atiku noted that the suspension of the minister was commendable but not enough.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to investigate all financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Edu came under criticism after a leaked memo on December 20, 2023, revealed that she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585 million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
The former Vice President noted that it was unfortunate that a programme that was designed to lift over 100 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty had allegedly become a cash cow for successive All Progressives Congress governments.
He said, “While Tinubu deserves commendation for suspending Edu, we believe this is a belated move. First, he had no business appointing her as a minister of such a sensitive ministry in the first place. Tinubu put politics ahead of competence, hence this scandal.
“What experience did Betta have in the development sector? How was Imaan Ibrahim, with her wealth of experience, overlooked? How did the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, stand as Betta Edu’s referee during her clearance at the Senate?”
Atiku who called for reform of the ministry, alleged that it was not only Betta Edu that was involved in the transactions.
“Betta Edu should not be the fall guy. Others who have remotely and wickedly benefitted from money that was meant for poor Nigerians ought to be fished out, probed, and prosecuted too. It is demonic and tendentiously wicked to steal in the name of the poor.
“There is a need for the government to reform the humanitarian affairs ministry and other interventionist programmes that had become an ATM and POS for those in power,” he said.
He noted that the fact that the previous Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, is also being probed for N37bn fraud was evidence that immediate and urgent actions need to be taken to reform the ministry.
The statement added, “Even during the COVID-19 lockdown, Farouq continued to implement the school feeding programme. She ridiculously claimed that the food would be delivered to the students at home since schools were shut.
“Today, Betta Edu claims that over three million households got N20,000 each during the Yuletide. Sadly, there is no evidence of millions of Nigerians getting such money. This shows that money has just been going into private pockets.
“The scandal that we are contending with is not about Betta Edu, nor about Halima Shehu, or any other person for that matter.
“It is about a problem of systemic corruption through which the APC continues to bleed the treasury, ironically, asphyxiating the poor and vulnerable segment of the country, all in the name of caring for them.
“The APC has weaponised poverty and hunger to control the minds of the vulnerable masses, and it is even worse that they have devised a method to use poverty as an instrument of official corruption.”
News
CBN in U-turn withdraws cybersecurity levy
CBN in U-turn withdraws cybersecurity levy
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has withdrawn the circular it issued to all commercial banks on May 6, 2024, directing them to implement a compulsory withdrawal of 0.05 per cent from every electronic transaction as cybersecurity levy.
The controversial directive for collection of the levy had attracted nationwide condemnation when the central bank introduced the policy last week, prompting the Presidency to immediately suspend the implementation of the Cybersecurity Levy.
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In a withdrawal circular that was issued by the CBN on Sunday night, it directed the banks not to go ahead with the initial directive, in line with the presidential directive. The apex bank authorities claimed it’s a sign that the present administration was a listening one that prioritises public good.
“Further to this, please be advised that the above referenced circular is hereby withdrawn,” CBN director in charge of payments system, Chibuzo Efobi, and the director, financial policy and regulation, Haruna Mustapha, said in the circular, adding that all banks should “Please be guided accordingly.”
CBN in U-turn withdraws cybersecurity levy
News
Minimum Wage: Labour returns for negotiation with FG Tuesday, looks beyond N100,000
Minimum Wage: Labour returns for negotiation with FG Tuesday, looks beyond N100,000
The oganised labour says it will honour the invitation by the Federal Government for Tuesday, May 21, 2024 to continue the negotiation for a new minimum wage.
Even as it has announced readiness to back down on its earlier N615,000 proposal, it vowed not to accept N100,000 as the new minimum wage.
The organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, pulled out of the negotiation meeting last Wednesday when the government offered N48,000 as new minimum wage.
However, Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, Alhaji Bukar Goni, in a letter to the organised labour calling a meeting to be held tomorrow, indicated interest that the government would shift ground and asked the labour to do so too.
A report by Vanguard quoted the NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, as saying the organised labour would honour the invitation tomorrow but advised the government to be serious.
He said, “Our expectations are that government should be serious this time around. We expect them to take more seriously the issue of wages of workers.”
‘’So if the government is serious, it should not be thinking about N100,000. You know that when you create poor citizens, you create a poorer county,” he added.
News
I’ve never taken bribe since joining police in 2005 – Force PRO Adejobi
I’ve never taken bribe since joining police in 2005 – Force PRO Adejobi
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has boasted that he has never for once accepted a bribe of any kind since he started active service as a police officer.
Adejobi, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), made this revelation in a post on his verified X account on Sunday.
The Force PRO, while responding to a netizen who asked if he had ever taken bribes before, said accepting bribes is a taboo for him as a royal prince.
According to him, accepting a bribe is not just ungodly but also affects someone somewhere anytime it is taken.
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He noted that the essence of life is to put smiles on the faces of others and not to be the source of their tears.
He further revealed that he has taken it upon himself to preach against accepting bribery to his fellow police officers and other people around him.
He wrote, “No. It’s a taboo for a royal prince to take a bribe. Taking bribe definitely makes someone somewhere cry for many reasons, and it’s ungodly to do so. Your main purpose in life is to put smiles on people’s faces. It’s Godly and rewarding. It’s my personal principle and a call to duty. I preach this to my colleagues and many others always. May we have the grace to remain steadfast and purposeful in life.”
Adejobi, who is a prince from Orile-Owu Community in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State, was reappointed as the Force PRO by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, in August 2023.
I’ve never taken bribe since joining police in 2005 – Force PRO Adejobi
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