Npower News: Beneficiaries Of Npower Batch C Want Betta Edu Sacked

According to Npower News, Betta Edu, has denied her criminal act. Betta Edu said she had approved the payment of ₦585,200,000 into a personal account for the “implementation of grants to vulnerable groups.”

According to Npower News, beneficiaries of Npower batch c who participated in an online poll want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack Betta Edu, the ex-Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

More than 70% of the beneficiaries of Npower batch c who took part in the poll are of the opinion that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should sack Betta Edu whose ministry is currently being probed for misappropriation of funds.

According to Npower News, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Betta Edu in January because she requested for the payment of ₦585,200,000 into the personal bank account of a civil servant, who is the project accountant in charge of grants for Vulnerable Nigerians.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out a “thorough investigation” of all the ministry’s financial transactions.” The investigation extended to the entire framework of the National Social Investment Programmes.

According to Npower News, Betta Edu, the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) said at the time that such funds were meant to be sent directly from government accounts to the beneficiaries.

Chapter Seven of Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009 states that “Personal money shall in no circumstances be transferred into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be transferred into a private account.”

It also added that “Any officer who transfers public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.”

According to Npower News, the opinion poll was run across Npower official Facebook and Npower X handle (formerly Twitter).

The beneficiaries of Npower batch c were asked a single question: “Humanitarian Ministry Scandal: Should President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sack Betta Edu?”

The options given are as follows:

Yes

No

According to Npower News, online 1,000 beneficiaries of Npower batch c participated in the opinion poll and the majority of beneficiaries of Npower batch c said they want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack Betta Edu. Of the 1,000 beneficiaries of Npower batch c who voted, 70% voted in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sacking Betta Edu. About 25% of beneficiaries of Npower batch c said No, while 5% of beneficiaries of Npower batch c said they do not care.

According to Npower News, on X, 2,862 beneficiaries of Npower batch c voted. At least 56% of beneficiaries of Npower batch c voted Yes, 26% of beneficiaries of Npower batch c said No, while 18% of beneficiaries of Npower batch c said they do not care.

Meanwhile, on Npower Facebook, 606 of beneficiaries of Npower batch c voted, out of which 75% of beneficiaries of Npower batch c voted Yes, 15% of beneficiaries of Npower batch c voted No, and 10% of beneficiaries of Npower batch c said they do not care.

According to Npower News, in response to the opinion poll on X, a beneficiary of Npower batch c said, “I am from Cross River State but I frankly do not care about this opinion poll. Let the anti-graft agency do their job. If Betta Edu is found guilty, let her face the music. If Betta Edu is innocent, let her be reinstated. However, let President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also do this to all erring ministers and not just Betta Edu.”

Another beneficiary of Npower batch c believes that: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs Betta Edu, Betta Edu is one of the best Ministers in his cabinet. Betta Edu will come back stronger, bigger and bolder.”

“This administration needs someone as vibrant, sound and engaging who is really ready to carry out any task in alleviating poverty from the nation as Betta Edu who is heading the ministry from the front end unlike other ministries. Betta Edu is clearly living up to expectations,” another beneficiary of Npower batch c, wrote.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn in last year promising to clamp down on graft in Nigeria. Within a month of his inauguration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended the head of the EFCC indefinitely for abuse of office.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government said the suspension follows his commitment “to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability” in how Nigeria’s resources are managed.

Meanwhile, Betta Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Umar Farouq, is also being investigated for alleged embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds during her time as Minister for Humanitarian Affair, Disaster Management and Social Investment Programmes. Sadiya Umar Farouq said that she was going to “offer clarifications in respect of some issues that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating.”