The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, may not return to her former position as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made new appointments to the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA), which is under the Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation.
Tinubu suspended Betta Edu in January over alleged corruption and had also asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the ministry under her watch.
The president had also suspended Halima Shehu as the chief executive officer (CEO) of NSIPA and all programmes under NSIPA.
He also constituted a ministerial panel to conduct a review of the agency’s operations with a view to recommending necessary reforms.
However, on Tuesday, presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced that the President had appointed seven individuals to man agencies under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Ngelale said Dr. Badamasi Lawal had been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA.
Others appointed by the president include, Ms. Funmilola Olotu, Programme Manager, National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office; Ms. Aishat Alubankudi, Programme Manager, Grant for Vulnerable Groups; and Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Programme Manager, Home Grown School Feeding.
Others are: Mr. Abdullahi Alhassan Imam, Programme Manager, National Cash Transfer Office; Mr. Ayuba Gufwan – Executive Secretary, National Commission for People with Disabilities; and Ms. Lami Binta Adamu Bello as the Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
Ngelale said the President expects the appointment to facilitate the needed relief to Nigerians and ensure the effectiveness of humanitarian and social development programmes.
He said the president also expects the new heads of these critical agencies and programmes to discharge the functions of their offices with utmost integrity and diligence so as to ensure that Nigerians, especially vulnerable groups, are the exclusive and direct beneficiaries of his administration’s reconfigured welfare programmes.
