Npower: Payment Of ₦585,000,000 Into Private Account Of Project Accountant Is Legal – Minister's Aide

Rasheed Zubair, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister in charge of Npower, Dr. Betta Edu, explains that the transfer of ₦585,000,000 into a personal account of the Project Accountant is legal and conforms with civil service regulations.

Dr. Betta Edu the minister in charge of Npower, in a viral memo personally endorsed by her and forwarded to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) requested the payment of funds to the personal account of one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

The memo also showed that the disbursement of the ₦585,000,000 grant, meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, was made into Oniyelu’s personal account.

This has fueled mixed reactions from Nigerian youths online, with many clamouring for the minister’s resignation.

In response to the leaked memo, Rasheed Zubair, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister in charge of Npower, said the disbursement of funds for the vulnerable group followed the right process.

According to Rasheed Zubair, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister in charge of Npower, the disbursement of the grant to the private account of Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola was due to the fact that Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola currently serves as the Project Accountant of Grants for Vulnerable Groups (GVG).

Rasheed Zubair, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister in charge of Npower, said, “It is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear the Honourable Minister, Dr Betta Edu [the minister in charge of Npower], and tarnish her integrity because the minister in charge of Npower, Dr. Betta Edu brought to the notice of the Federal Government, the ongoing ₦44.8 Billion Fraud in the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

“These disgruntled elements have been trying to link her [the minister in charge of Npower] to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure. However, this latest vile effort of theirs is another infantile blackmail doomed for evisceration.

“For the avoidance, the said ₦585,000,000 was approved, and it is meant to implement grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.

“We must note that Grants for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) was first launched in Kogi State, where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023. Kogi already happened in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.

“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups (RHGVG) is one of the social intervention program of the Federal Government of Nigeria, which the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation [the ministry in charge of Npower] is implementing.

“Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola is the Project Accountant for Grants For Vulnerable Groups (GVG) from the Department of Finance, and it is legal in public service for a staff, the project accountant, to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire the same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed.”