Funds for vulnerable groups were approved, followed due process-Betta Edu

The N585.18 million grant for vulnerable groups in four states was approved and adhered to the required due process of government, according to a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on Friday.

Additionally, it mentioned that Oniyelu Bridget, the fellow, is currently employed as the Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Groups, which is why the award was paid to her account.

On Friday night, a document about the grant payment that was signed by Betta Edu, the minister in charge of the ministry, went viral on social media.

The document showed that the payment of the N585.18m grant, meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, were made into Oniyelu’s account.

This made many Nigerians wonder why the ministry would pay such a huge fund, meant for four states, into the account of a single individual, as critics described the development as fraudulent.

Recall that the National Social Investment Programme Agency, an organisation also under the humanitarian ministry, has been enmeshed in financial scandals lately, which involved senior officials of the NSIPA.

The NSIPA’s ex-National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Halima Shehu, was suspended recently by President Bola Tinubu following an allegation of financial impropriety and the crisis rocking the agency.

But in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday as regards the N585m grant, the humanitarian ministry said, “For the avoidance, the said N585m was approved, and it is meant for the implementation of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states.

“We must, however, note that GVG was first launched in the Kogi State where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023. Kogi already happened in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.

“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the Federal Government, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance and it is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire the same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed.”

The ministry went ahead to state that the leaked document was its memo to the Accountant-General of the Federation, seeking approval for the N585m payment.