Prominent civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), which had on Saturday called for the suspension of the embattled minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the bulls by the horns by his immediate suspension of the minister over alleged official indiscretion.
The rights group said the action of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was commendable given the fact that Edu was a powerful former national women leader of the ruling national party.
HURIWA welcomes what it calls 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 averred that: “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 are 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 as ‘government magic’ which will become a disastrous betrayal of public trust.
HURIWA recalled that President Bola Tinubu suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect even as the suspension was disclosed in a statement by the spokesman of the President, Chief Ajuri Ngelale.
HURIWA recalled that President Tinubu in the statement also directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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 recalled that the Presidential statement announcing her suspension reads thus: “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.
“The President further directs the Executive Chairman of 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 there under.
“The suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.
“Furthermore, the President has tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative,” it said.
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.
HURIWA has also charged President Bola Ahmed 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 fatherland and the citizenry.”
