The leaked memo from the ministry of humanitarian affairs instructing the accountant-general of the federation, to transfer the sum of N585 million Naira from the National Social Investment Programme bank Account to the bank account of a private individual continues to generated reactions on social media.
The memo which was signed by the minister of humanitarian affairs Betta Edu was titled Mandate for Payment of Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States Respectively.
In a statement on Friday January 5th the ministers aide claimed that the transfer followed due process and that the private account belonged to Bridget Mojisola the project accountant for the Grants for Vulnerable Groups scheme adding that it is legal in the civil service for a project accountant to receive payments, use funds legally and retire all receipts as evidence of the project.
The accountant-general of the federation, Oluwatoyin Madein however denied approving the minister’s request stating that no bulk money is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of Project Accountant. A video of the minister when she assured Nigerians of transparency within her ministry has made rounds on social media.
The minister is also said to have approved funds for flight tickets and airport taxis for the ministry’s staff to Kogi a state with no airport. The approval was contained in another leaked internal memo dated November 6th 2023. The memo was titled: ‘The Disbursement Under the 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programmes in Kogi State, 2023’, singed by Betta Edu. In the memo, the sum of over 72 million Naira was appropriated for the minister’s advanced team to travel by air for an event in Kogi.
Each of the minister’s advance team members, including aides, received the sum of N200,000 for flight tickets, N20,000 for airport taxi, and local running expenses. The sum of N300,000 was earmarked for the minister’s air ticket. In Akwa Ibom State, the recently completed States International Worship Centre, is generating reactions online with some labelling the edifice as a misplaced priority.
The former governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel, who built the church, had said that the building would be an altar that will perpetually draw God’s blessings to the people of the state. At the time of construction in 2021, residents had also faulted the rationale behind the project worth over N32billion Naira.
The states governor Umo Eno, in a post on X last week, disclosed that government officials and other political stakeholders held a Special Thanksgiving & New Year Service at the worship centre sparking fresh criticism The British Broadcasting Corporation is poised to release a three-part investigative documentary outlining alleged atrocities and sexual crimes attributed to late Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, widely known as TB Joshua.
The pastor died on June 5th 2021, The BBC interviewed at least 30 former members and workers of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, where the pastor presided before his passing; as part of the investigation for the documentary.
The first segment of the documentary is slated for release today January 8th. In a short teaser victims narrated their ordeal with the pastor. A young optimistic Nigerian, who is advocating for a better Nigeria in a short clip, advised Nigerians to stay focused on the good things the country has to offer and to be less critical of the negatives, while allowing president Tinubu Breathe.
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