Npower News: I Am Not Involved In ₦438,100,000 Contract – Olubunmi Tunji Ojo

According to Npower News, Mr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo (Minister of Interior) has said that he is not to be linked with ₦438,100,000 consultancy contract between New Planet Project Limited and the Ministry in charge of Npower, that is the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

According to Npower News, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had earlier instructed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Ola Olukoyede, to prove all transactions and transfer of funds involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (the ministry in charge of Npower).

Dr Betta Edu was the minister in charge of Npower until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu relieved her of her duties.

According to Npower News, Dr. Betta Edu the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, was criticized after a leaked memorandum on December 20, 2023, showed that the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, requested the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein, to make payment of ₦585,000,000 to a personal account owned by Mrs. Oniyelu Bridget, who acts as the Project Accountant for the Grants for Vulnerable Groups (GVG).

Information gathered from reliable sources, stated that a company owned by the Mr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo (Minister of Interior) received ₦438,100,000 by the ex-Minister in charge of Npower Dr. Betta Edu for consulting services.

According to reports “The company, New Planet Project Limited was one of the numerous consultants awarded contracts from ₦3,000,000,000 given out by the ex-minister in charge of Npower Dr. Betta Edu for the National Social Register contract."

In response to this allegations, Mr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo (Minister of Interior) while appearing on Channels TV Politics Today, disclosed that he established the company ten years ago, but resigned as the company's director in 2019 to pursue his political ambition.

Mr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo (Minister of Interior) was surprised about the allegations towards him, he was a mere shareholder in the company and was not involved in the daily operations of the company (New Planet Project Limited).

Mr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo the minister of interior said “I have to say this, I saw it and I was amazed because the company in question was a company, where I was the director.

“About 5 years ago, I resigned as the director of New Planet Project Limited. Yes, I established the company ten years ago. In 2019 and when I was elected as a member of the House of Representatives, I resigned as the company's director. I resigned as the company's director on the 4th of February 2019 with a Certified True Copy of Corporate Affairs Commission as far back as 2019 to buttress my claims.”

According to Npower News, Mr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo the minister of interior, said he came into the civil service having it at the back of his mind that Nigerians would ask questions, charge relevant agencies to investigate the contract processes.

Mr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo the minister of interior further said, “I do not run the company. I am not aware of the contract. I did not sign any account. I am not a director of the company."

“The company is a limited liability company, which is a private entity. So if the company is a private entity, of course, I am still a shareholder, and to the best of my understanding civil service rule does not prevent public officers from being shareholders."

“What civil service rule says is that you cannot be a director, of which I had resigned about 5 years ago."

"I have no business with this allegations, absolutely no business. Because I am not involved in the daily operations of the company. I do not get contracts for the company. I do not bid for the company. I am not a signatory to the company’s account. I am not involved."

“So the company is an limited liability company an entity of its own. If then, the question should be was the contract awarded to the company? If the answer is yes. Then the question is was due process adhered to? It is a yes. Did the company deliver on the contract? If it is a yes. Then number three is that did the company deliver the contract in line with the terms and agreement of the contract? If it is a no, then they should be sanctioned by law”.

Npower News: Npower Batch C Be Aware Of Fake Npower Portal Online

According to Npower News, Npower batch c should be aware of fake Npower portal online used for Npower registration, Npower application and Npower examination.

According to Npower News, some Npower batch c are being tricked into paying an amount of money online for Npower examination on the fake Npower portal. Npower batch c should kindly note that Npower is currently not recruiting and the Npower portal is not active at the moment, the Npower portal for Npower registration, Npower application and Npower test is totally free.

According to Npower News, the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (the ministry in charge of Npower) will be employing five million Nigerian youths, one million each year for five years into the renewed Hope Job Creation program which is the new Npower and this new Npower is yet to start.

Npower batch c are advised to beware of fake Npower portal which might be cloned by scammers in order to get sensitive and confidential information from the gullible.

As soon as the Renewed Hope Job Creation program (New Npower) kicks off it will be communicated on all verified Npower Facebook, Npower Twitter handles and on all TV stations and Radio stations.

Ex-Minister In Charge of Npower Dr Betta Edu Yet To Hand Over Office To Permanent Secretary

According to Npower News, the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, Dr Betta Edu, is yet to officially hand over office to the Permanent Secretary, as instructed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the ex-Minister in charge of Npower was “instructed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation [the ministry in charge of Npower], and Dr. Betta Edu was mandated by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fully comply with the anti-graft agency as they conduct their investigation.”

Information from a reliable source claimed that the ex-minister in charge of Npower, left her office after receiving the suspension letter.

According to Npower News, a member of staff of the Ministry who is knowledge with civil service operations explained that the Permanent Secretary cannot act on a mere report trending online but must receive an official memorandum on the suspension of the ex-Minister in charge of Npower and subsequent directive.

According to Npower News, the ex-Minister’s office was under lock and key and all the chairs being used by her advisers had been removed from the office balcony.

According to Npower News, Mr. Abe Fisayo Makanjuola, said, “It’s the right development because the president is just coming into power; we have one year to assess him fully, and he has started on a very good note.

“The diversion of public funds is a very bad thing to do by the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, who was appointed few months ago, and if eventually an investigation is concluded and we find out that it is not false, then President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken the right step in the right direction by suspending the ex-Minister in charge of Npower Dr Betta Edu while the investigation is ongoing.

Mr. Abe Fisayo Makanjuola, further said “This is a very good thing to do, unlike what we had in the former administration, where, in a series of scandals, nobody was talking, nobody was suspending anybody."

“We believe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can still extend that particular long arm of the law to other notable Nigerians who have been involved in criminal act for a very long time. We hope to see better things in the days ahead."

Contrary to this, Mr. Christopher Emmanuel, a civil servant stated that the issue of the payment of funds into a personal account by the ex-Minister in charge of Npower is still an allegation.

Mr. Christopher Emmanuel said, “It is still an allegation right now until the court says that the ex-minister in charge of Npower is guilty. But the step taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a good step in the right direction because the Ministry of Humanitarian [ministry in charge of Npower] has messed up and needs to be sanitized and scrutinized."

Dr. Betta Edu Ex-minister In Charge of Npower To Report At Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Headquarters Tuesday 9th 2024

According to Npower News, Dr. Betta Edu the ex-Minister is expected to report at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Headquarters Tuesday 9th 2024

According to a reliable source, the ex-minister in charge of Npower, has been invited in line with President Tinubu’s instruction that a holistic investigation be conducted within the ex-minister's tenure in the ministry.

According to Npower News, Dr. Betta Edu the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, was involved in a ₦585,000,000 payment scandal involving her and her ministry, and this has attracted widespread criticisms from civil rights groups and political activists.

The problem of the ex-Minister escalated when the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, explained that although her office received the memo from the ex-Minister in charge of Npower to make payments, her office did not honour the request.

According to Npower News, the Presidential spokesman, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, said his principal suspended the ex-Minister in charge of Npower Dr. Betta Edu with immediate effect and directed the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, “to conduct a holistic investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions” involving the ministry in charge of Npower and “one or more agencies under the social investment program”.

Dr. Betta Edu, who is thirty seven years of age, is the youngest in the President’s cabinet before her suspension, Dr. Betta Edu was a fast-rising force in the political space having occupied state and national offices at a very young age.

Prior to her appointment as the Minister in charge of Npower, last August, Dr. Betta Edu the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, was Cross River State Commissioner for Health and the National Women Leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). Dr. Betta Edu was a major figure in the campaign train of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that brought the former Lagos state Governor into office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to Npower, Dr. Betta Edu the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, got her ministerial appointment about three months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected as President. Her tenure as minister in charge of Npower was however, truncated barely six months after her ministerial appointment, perhaps the shortest tenure by a minister in a long while.

Ex-Minister In Charge Of Npower Yet To Be Summoned By EFCC

According to Npower, ex-Minister in charge of Npower, Dr. Betta Edu, who was relieved of her duty by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is yet to be summoned and interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This was contrary to earlier publications that the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, was already at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Headquarters in Abuja for questioning.

According to Npower, although the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, had been suspended by Mr President, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was yet to invite her for interrogation as instructed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the alleged ₦585,000,000 fund meant for payment to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom State and other states.

According to a reliable source, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were in the process of summoning the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, to their headquarters for questioning on the alleged misappropriation of funds.

A competent EFCC source said “We are in the process of inviting the ex-minister to answer questions on the fund. It is false that the ex-Minister is already in our custody."

According to Npower, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had previously ordered a holistic investigation into the alleged ₦585,000,000 scandal in the Ministry in charge of Npower and promised to “punish accordingly” perpetrators involved in any breaches and infractions unravelled during the investigations.

According to Npower, the ex-Minister in charge of Npower has however denied any wrongdoing, saying that the ₦585,000,000 payment was for vulnerable persons in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states and defended the action, claiming that it was legal within the civil service for such transfers to be made into personal accounts of staff members, especially project accountants.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Invites Ex-Minster In Charge Of Npower Dr. Betta Edu, For Interrogation

According to Npower News, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, Dr Betta Edu, for interrogation.

According to Npower News, this invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) comes few minutes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the Minister's immediate suspension from office.

A member of staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who made this confirmation said the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had previously suggested the immediate suspension of the ex-Minister in charge of Npower, in order to give way for the ongoing investigation that had been mandated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to Npower News, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), commenced operations into the matter, immediately President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged transfer of five hundred and eighty five million naira, grant meant for vulnerable persons and groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states into a personal.account.

According to an EFCC official “Our investigation into the alleged payment will not be thorough if we did not recommend the Minister’s suspension. The Minister's suspension will give us freedom to do our job thoroughly as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“A formal invitation by the commission has already been sent to the ex-Minister in charge of Npower. We expect the ex-Minister in charge of Npower to honour the invitation to give proper insight into the matter at hand. So, we expect the ex-Minister to arrive at our headquarters anytime soon."

Npower News: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Suspends The Minister In Charge of Npower, Dr. Betta Edu

According to Npower News, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (the ministry in charge of Npower) and the National Social Investment Programme Agency NSIPA.

According to a full statement from the State House by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale which reads:

"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 suspended Minister in charge of Npower Dr. Betta Edu is hereby instructed to hand over her position to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (the ministry in charge of Npower) and the minister is further instructed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fully cooperate with the anti-graft agency as they embark on their investigation.

According to Npower News, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the sole responsibility to a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, carry out a comprehensive scrutiny on the financial structure of the social investment programmes with the aim of restructuring the national social investment programmes in a bid to eradicate all institutional differences for the sole benefit of vulnerable groups and persons and win the lost confidence from the masses regarding the initiative.

Npower News: Federal Ministry Of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (Ministry In Charge of Npower) Releases Job Application Link For Humanitarian Aid Workers 2024

According to Npower News, the Federal Government of Nigeria in conjunction with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (the ministry in charge of Npower) is recruiting Humanitarian Aid Workers, the job is located in Plateau state.

According to Npower News, the Humanitarian aid worker will be required to provide vital assistance, response and rescue operations to individuals in crises and emergencies in the state. 

The Ministry in charge of Npower, will be recruiting temporary Humanitarian aid workers and these humanitarian aid workers will be posted to every location in the state with humanitarian crises. 

According to Npower News, successful candidates will be engaged for three months in the first instance, and if the crisis is continues, successful applicants may be engaged for six months or 12 months.

Qualified applicants and Npower batch c beneficiaries living in Plateau state can apply through the application link https://fmhapahumanitarianjobs.com or forward a handwritten application to the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Abuja.