… Arewa group appeals to Tinubu to suspend her
Close sources have revealed that the suspended National Social Investment Programme Agency, (NSIPA) Boss, Halima Shehu has been witnessing series of witch-hunting from the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Betta Edu, ever since the suspended NSIPA Boss vowed not to compromise since her assumption of office.
It was gathered that Shehu realised that Betta Edu removed over three billion Naira (N3bn) in one month for National Social Register (NSR) Verification without proof or authorisation from the NSIPA account without the knowledge of the NSIPA boss.
According to the sources, to prevent more funds from being illegally moved from the Agency’s account without proof, Shehu transferred the remaining funds left in the accounts meant for Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and Grants for Vulnerable Groups, (GVG), to protect the money for being squandered. The funds are under the coffers of the Federal Government.
All these monies were allegedly withdrawn from the NSIPA account without the knowledge of the suspended NSIPA boss, who is the chief accounting officer of the Agency. NSIPA in an agency under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Sources close to Halima Shehu say her stand not to compromise triggered Betta Edu’s action in setting her up, and turning the tables that resulted to Halima Shehu’s unconstitutional suspension by a letter sent by the Minister herself instead of the Presidency, which has sparked reactions from Human Rights Activists, Civil Societies and concerned Nigerians.
Interestingly, Shehu is currently being interrogated at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and she has made eye-opening evidences available to them.
Halima Shehu, who is fondly called Mrs. Transparent, reaffirmed her resolve to ensure accountability and transparency in the implementation of the $800 million World Bank’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, while giving an update on the role of the NSIPA in poverty alleviation under President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
She has always described NSIPA as the human face of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which would be taken seriously by the Agency.
Upon her resumption into office Halima has been working round the clock to ensure that she doesn’t leave any stone unturned in the fight against poverty as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Meanwhile, a Northern group, ‘The Northern Re-Awakening Front (NRF)’, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu, to in the interest of fairness, also suspend and instruct the EFCC to investigate the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu on the allegation of her withdrawal, or transfer, of N3 billion the account of the National Social Investment Programme Agency’s (NSIPA) coffer against the Extant Financial Rules and Regulations
Halima Shehu the CEO of NSIPA has claimed that she was hurriedly suspended over a false Betta Edu’s report to President Tinubu on alleged financial impropriety and she is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).
