JOY ANIGBOGU
The number of Nigerians living in extreme poverty has continued to rise. In 2022, an estimated population of 88.4 million people in the country lived in extreme poverty.
The number of men living on less than 1.90 U.S. dollars a day in the country reached around 44.7 million, while the count was at 43.7 million for women.
Overall, 12.9 percent of the global population in extreme poverty were found in Nigeria as of 2022.
During campaigns ahead of elections, almost all the major presidential candidates had told Nigerians at one point or the other that they were going to tackle poverty head on. They had promised to create jobs, empower Nigerians and make life better for them.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari in order to tackle poverty established the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on Wednesday August 21, 2019 by an Executive pronouncement.
The ministry had as its mission to develop humanitarian policies and provide effective coordination of national and international humanitarian interventions.
He appointed Dr. Sadiya Umar Farouq as the minister and she was inaugurated on 24 August 2019.
Unfortunately the ministry is fast becoming synonymous with corruption considering revelations from the anti-graft agency.
As the name implies it is supposed to be humanitarian in nature. The less privileged persons should be hopeful with that ministry, unfortunately stories emanating from that ministry suggest that the privileged members of the society now use that ministry as conduit pipes to enrich themselves and their cronies.
The allegations leveled against the former minister looks like scenes from the Nollywood, where billions of naira was alleged to have been mismanaged, including claims of feeding of school children during covid lock down.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, for questioning over allegations of corruption in the handling of N37.1 billion social intervention funds during her tenure.
The ongoing investigation by the EFCC revolves around the staggering sum of N37.1 billion (N37,170,855,753.44) allegedly laundered by officials of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development then led by Mrs Umar-Farouk as the minister.
The EFCC had earlier grilled Halima Shehu, the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) being supervised by the ministry.
The commission detained Mrs Shehu after raiding NSIPA’s office in the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, on 2 January. She was held for questioning till the following day when she was released on bail.
As if that was not enough the current minister, Betta Edu was suspended over allegations of corruption in less than seven months in office.
According to reports, Dr. Edu directed that the N585.2 million, which was transferred from the National Social Investment office account, be transferred into a civil servant’s private bank account.
The money was meant for disbursement to vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun states, under the federal government poverty intervention project called Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, distanced herself from the transaction, confirming the illegality of the humanitarian affairs minister Ms Edu’s action.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in a statement on Sunday that the federal government was investigating the scandal.
Some Nigerians are disappointed with the developments and have asked that the ministry be scrapped in view of the fact that it has outlived its usefulness.
Comrade Femi Lawson, Executive Director, Centre for Public Accountability did not hide his feelings when he said that the massive corruption in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has only signaled to fact that the Ministry has outlived its usefulness.
Lawson in a chat with Daily Independent called for scrapping of the ministry stressing that it has become a cash cow for privileged Nigerians.
He said, “The event of the past few weeks judging by the revelation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the activities of the ministry under the previous administration where nearly N38b fraud was perpetuated not through the entire period but through contract awarded to an individual by the former ministry, Sadiya Umar Farouq.
“Now the revelation by virtue of the contact awarded by the suspended minister, Beta Edu, so that ministry has become a conduit pipe for corruption and we can no longer trust people appointed as ministers in the ministry.
He added, “The whole essence of the ministry is to create a platform for palliatives for the vulnerable Nigerians, but rather it has become a cash cow for privileged Nigerians who now exploit the ministry to make money for themselves.
“I think the ministry has outlived its usefulness. The Federal Government should rather deal with agencies that can cater for the welfare of the people. They had the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), under Goodluck Jonathan and under Yar Adua. We can go back there and empower our young people, empower our market women and avoid this kind of situation whereby people just steal money in the name of empowering our people,” Lawson said.
Still disturbed by the allegations corruption in the ministry and the fact that more Nigerians are falling into the poverty level, Yinka Folarin, National Vice President, CDHR in a chat with Daily Independent said that calling for the scrapping of the ministry is not the solution to the fight against corruption, stressing that the ministry has been created to address issues of poverty in the country.
He maintained that the best approach to checking the menace which he said has affected all facets of the society, is to rejig the ministry and ensure that those who have been found culpable are prosecuted and made to pay for their offences irrespective of their political or social status.
Folarin said, “I won’t subscribe to the scrapping of the ministry in view of the strategic importance of the ministry in the lives of the generality of Nigerians, especially the less privileged members of the society, the down trodden and the impoverished members of the society.
“In view of the humanitarian intervention expected from the ministry, I won’t support it being scrapped.
“I’ll suggest that anyone who has been found wanting should be dealt with irrespective of the political or social status of that individual.
“Sadiya Umar Farouq and Betta Edu should be used to teach others how not to mismanage public resources, so that others who may in future be appointed to man that ministry won’t disappoint Nigerians.
“Scrapping of the ministry won’t solve the problem but will be more or less a diversion or distraction
“Recall that the agency was formerly domiciled in the ministry of Women Affairs before the Buhari’s regime created that ministry. It was created to reach the vulnerable in the society. So, if the purpose of that ministry is achieved, it’ll go a long way in addressing the many challenges associated with poverty in the country.
“The right thing is to fight the corruption in that ministry, rather than scrap it. When that is done the purpose for which it was created would have been achieved.
“I remember how we screamed, made all kinds of noise when the former minister claimed that she was feeding school children during covid lock down. We said no, it’s not possible to claim that you’re feeding school children during lock down.
“She insisted that she was going to feed them and we all saw the conspiracy against the masses.
“We can only fight to rescue our country from these corrupt people. Calling for the scrapping means that one day we will call for the scrapping of the country because corruption has been entrenched in all facets of the country. So, the best that can be done is to continue to fight the perpetrators of corruption. So, the ministry should be sanitized and not scrapped,” Folarin added.
In the unfolding scam, Ms. Edu directed that the N585.2 million, which was transferred from the National Social Investment office account, be transferred into a civil servant’s private bank account.
The money was meant for disbursement to vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun states, under the federal government poverty intervention project called Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, distanced herself from the transaction, confirming the illegality of the humanitarian affairs minister Ms Edu’s action.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in a statement on Sunday that the federal government was investigating the scandal.
Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in a press statement urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to speed up the ongoing investigation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and charge all indicted persons to court.
He described as an “extremely embarrassing drama”, the circumstances surrounding Edu’s alleged involvement in the approval of N585,198,500.00 to be disbursed into a personal account.
In a letter allegedly signed by the minister, Edu allegedly instructed the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer the sum to the account of one Oniyelu Bridget as grant for vulnerable groups in four states.
However, Madein explained that although her office received a request from the humanitarian ministry to make certain payments, her office did not act on it.
Betta Edu’s request was ignored because bulk money can’t be paid to private accounts, says Accountant-General
The minister subsequently said there were plans to tarnish her image, adding that she won’t embezzle government funds.
However, Falana said Edu should stop insulting Nigerians, adding that she failed to deny that she gave approval for the funds to be paid to a private account instead of direct transfer to the beneficiaries’ accounts from the ministry.
He said, “It is interesting to note that the minister has not denied that she gave approval for the payment of the over half a billion Naira to a private account in contravention of the extant Public Service Rules as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Act and the Penal Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Instead of apologising to the Federal Government and people of Nigeria and calling it quits for betraying the confidence reposed in her, the Minister has arrogantly said that the N585.18 million fraud allegation is a mere fabrication by her detractors and an alleged attempt by mischief makers to undermine her ministry’s effort in fighting corruption and uplifting the needy.
“However, notwithstanding that the Accountant-General of the Federation has successfully frustrated the criminal diversion of the said sum of N585.18 million from public treasury, it is crystal clear from the leaked memorandum of the Minister that the offence of an attempt to commit a felony has already been completed.
“There can be no legal justification for the criminal diversion of the said sum of N585.18 million for disbursement to vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has collated the individual bank accounts of all the vulnerable people.”
Meanwhile, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) lauded President Bola Tinubu for taking the bulls by the horns by immediate suspension of the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Betta Edu over alleged official indiscretion.
The Rights group said the action of Tinubu which is a pacesetter in the fight against corruption, stated that it was unthinkable that such a powerful erstwhile national women leader of the ruling national party of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Edu could’ve been suspended under the 8-year treacherous and most corrupt administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
The rights group welcomed what it called a breath of fresh air in the leadership style of the current administration and hoped for a sustainable approach towards providing selfless services to the good people of Nigeria.
HURIWA said: “We the people of Nigeria are happy that the President has responded swiftly, but it is expected that the process of investigation of all the allegations would be painstakingly carried out so we avoid the political situation whereby the entire process will turn out a charade or become a scenario of the ‘more you look the less you see’.
“We’re watching and hoping that no stone is left unturned to ensure that not a single kobo belonging to the masses of Nigeria is diverted by crooked means. Enough is enough! We hope that this whole development wouldn’t turn out to be ‘government magic’ which will become a disastrous betrayal of public trust.
HURIWA recalled that President Tinubu in the statement also directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.
HURIWA is also asking the President to be thorough and transparent in all his appointments just as the Rights group emphasized that President Tinubu should prove wrong the impression in the minds of millions of Nigerians that a clear majority of his ministers bought their positions with money and the way to regain public trust is by appointing Nigerians who are competent, patriotic and have merited whatever position of authority that the government of Nigeria has bestowed on such a personality because in their words, a call to national service is not a self centred enterprise for pecuniary benefits of the appointees.
HURIWA said it is by demonstrably showing that the President is responsive and receptive to the rational voices of the people, that transparency and accountability would become the pinnacle of governance in the Country and by so doing, good governance will come to birth in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The group charged President Tinubu to dismiss his ministers who aren’t focused on delivering their mandates. Nigeria is facing a battle of unprecedented dimension to wrestle mass poverty to the ground and to liberate hundreds of millions of Nigerians from the adversities of absolute poverty. “This therefore requires determined actions by the head of state and head of government to make sure that the ministers give their best in the service of the fatherland and the citizenry,” HURIWA added.
While calling for caution in judging Edu, a constitutional lawyer and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Dr. Tunji Abayomi has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians to be fair in handling the issue of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu and others not to throw the baby out with the bathwater
According to him, let both the people and their government be fair and just in judging Betta Edu and others.
“We must remember that all citizens regardless of their state and condition are entitled to the protection of the law and right,” he said.
Abayomi in a statement personally signed in Akure, the Ondo State capital today said that now the rush to condemn and convict Betta Edu may please our disappointment in government especially because of our long suffering but it may not accord with our law.
His words: “Citizens right to justice however requires the right to proper judgment free from community anger and anguish.
“There is a difference between a crime and a wrong. While it is true that every crime is a wrong, not every wrong is a crime,” Abayomi noted
The Constitutional lawyer further stated that “Often wrongs aim at correction as common Citizens can in fact be wrong while crime aims at conviction often after impartial judgment.
“The Federal government has ordered an investigation. This is part of the obligation of government to the people. We must however recognise that the Civil rights of citizens require a proper environment of fairness and impartiality not one polluted by our anger or anguish”‘ he added.
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