A Civil Society Organisation, Competent Governance For Accountability And Civic Trust, has commended President Bola Tinubu for listening to the cry of the masses by suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
The CSO in a press conference in Abuja by its Executive Director, Comr. Godwin Oghenero Erheriene, also called on Tinubu to consider the Account General of the Federation, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, for National honour for her transparency.
Tinubu, in a statement on Monday by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, had suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation from office with immediate effect and ordered an investigation into the N585 million saga.
A viral document signed by the Minister and addressed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation showed that she ordered the payment of N585,189,500.00 into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private account.
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The leaked document showed that the money was paid into Oniyelu’s account.
The minister’s media aide, Rasheed Zubair, had in a statement on Friday said the payment followed due process.
Edu had also, in a statement she posted on her Facebook page on Saturday, said the allegation was baseless.
Erheriene said the President’s move had saved his government which is barely eight months old from corruption, adding that his action would serve as a deterrent to other public officeholders who might also want to soil their hands.
He said: “The role of Civil Society Organizations in gatekeeping the nation’s economy can never be overemphasised and in that capacity, we are making another appeal, calling on President Tinubu to present a National honour to the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein, for her transparency and accountability in handling public funds.
“Her administrative dexterity is worthy of emulation and commendation. It’s high time we started rewarding prudent civil servants with National honour and not just politicians, as it will encourage better productivity at all levels.
“This singular act of the AGF has put Nigeria in a very high pedestrian on global financial ranking when it comes to transparency of public funds.”
