By Ken Afor
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Olumuyiwa Enitan, has assumed the role of managing the ministry following the suspension of the Minister, Betta Edu.
Enitan received a letter of authorisation from an official at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), according to a senior official at the humanitarian ministry, who pleaded anonymity.
“The permanent secretary has taken over the affairs of the ministry based on the directive of Mr President. He officially got the letter to assume duty on Monday night,” the official said.
“The official added, “He (permanent secretary) needed to get the letter of authorisation from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation before assuming duties, despite the announcement in the media.”
TheNewDiplomat recalls that Edu was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on Monday following the approval by her ministry to pay N585 million into a personal account.
The President in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Monday directed the suspended minister to “hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.”
The President also directed the suspended minister to actively collaborate with the investigating authorities during their inquiry.
Additionally, the panel, led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, was tasked with conducting a thorough assessment of the financial structure and framework of the social investment programs.