Sadiya Umar Farouq
BreakingFeaturedTrending Story

Alleged Corruption, Incompetence: Unbundle Humanitarian Ministry Now, Group urges Buhari

107

 

 

 

 

Amid corruption allegations and incompetence, a non-governmental group, Forum for Good Governance has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to set in motion the process of unbundling the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

 

It said the Minister in charge, Hajiyya Sadiya Farouq, lacked the capacity to manage the octopus entity.

 

 

In a statement by its convener, Mr Ugochukwu Ezekiel Hanks, the group said the ongoing probe of the North-East Development Commission, one of the agencies under the Ministry by the House of Representatives over allegations that the Minister connived with the Managing Director of the Commission to mismanage N100 billion was an opener.

 

It said: “While it is too early to declare the minister and the managing director guilty of the allegations against them, the FGG noted that there have been similar controversies about the management of the Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programme, especially the N-Power and the Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

 

“The group recalls the controversies that characterized the implementation of the home grown programme even when pupils were not in school recently.

 

“For the N-Power programme, it has been one controversy or the other since the Minister took over the management. While the first and second batch volunteers of the N-Power Programme have been complaining that their allowances have not been paid even as they are being disengaged, the process of enrolment of new intakes have also been marred by controversies and alleged corruption.

 

“It is, therefore, clear that if the objective of bringing the social investment programmes under the Minister was to ensure efficiency, that goal is far from being achieved.  There are also insinuations that the Minister is virtually running the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, which should be under the supervision of the office of the Vice President statutorily.

 

“Stripping the Vice President of the powers to supervise NEMA, the National Boundary Commission and other agencies is a clear violation of the laws establishing the agencies and the Nigerian Constitution.’’

 

The group  noted that those who conceived and championed the creation of the ‘super ministry’ did not properly consider the organizational structure, especially the status of the heads of MDAs now mandated to be reporting to the Ministry.

 

According to the group, a Special Adviser to the President like Mrs Maryam Uwais should ordinarily report to the President due to the nature of the assignment of that office.

 

“The same can be said of the head of the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs where the head has the same status. It is an open secret that there is disquiet over the activities of the minister in many of the agencies now packed under her, even as tales of corrupt allegations continue to circulate in the public domain.

 

“As the head of a government that listed the fight against corruption as one of its major agenda, we urge the President to immediately begin the process of unbundling this ministry to avoid further embarrassment.’’

 

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Dani Alves pays €1m bail, set to leave Spanish jail

Former Brazil and Barcelona star Dani Alves, convicted of rape in Spain,...

World TB Day: 70 percent of TB cases in Africa now being diagnosed and treated – WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has disclosed that about 70 percent of...

13th AAG: Tobi Amusan wins gold in women’s 100m hurdles

The Nigerian sprint star, Tobi Amusan, won gold in the women’s 100m...

FG approves N12.7bln for mass metering of army barracks nationwide

The Federal Government says it has released N12.7 billion to provide electricity...

Women’s Day: Tinubu felicitates women, vows to prioritise their welfare, rights

President Bola Tinubu has promised to prioritize the welfare of women, protect...

All African Games: Nigeria’s Flying Eagles start their campaign on a losing note

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria started their campaign in the men’s football...

EFCC sets up task force to combat dollarization of economy, mutilation of naira

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the setting up...

Breaking: Seven days after, abducted Ekiti school children, teachers regain freedom

After seven days in the kidnappers’ den, the abducted students and teachers...

How Bafarawa diverted N4.6bln from ex-NSA for prayers, election, acquire luxury vehicles

A startling revelation has been made about how a former governor of...

CBN redeploys 1,500 staff to Lagos

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has redeployed 1,500 staff...

AFCON: Pres. Tinubu says unimpressed with Super Eagles’ performance

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his displeasure over the performance of the...

I’ve not met a man kind enough to marry —Ini Edo

In a candid revelation, renowned actress, Ini Edo, has hinted about the...

Ogun CP visits shot Nollywood actor, Ijaduade, vows to punish trigger-happy cop

Nollywood actor and Director, Azeez Ijaduade, who was shot “accidentally” by a...

Breaking: Actor, Azeez Ijaduade, allegedly shot by policeman in Ogun

In a shocking incident that has sent shock waves to Yoruba section...

Fast and furious actor, Vin Diesel, accused of sexual assault

Vin Diesel, known for his role in the Fast & Furious Series,...

Anyone asking for money this festive season lacks conscience, fear God – Comedian AY

Amid Nigeria’s challenging economic downturn, renowned comedian, Ayo Makun, popularly known as...

Octogenarian actor, Dejumo Lewis, dies

Nollywood community was on Friday night thrown into grief as the news...

I’m lucky to have you as my wife, Lateef praises Mo Bimpe on 2nd wedding anniversary

Celebrating their second year wedding anniversary, Nollywood actor, Lateef Adedimeji, has expressed...

Frank Edoho faces backlash for controversial remarks on infidelity

Renowned media personality, Frank Edoho, is under fire after making contentious comments...

Youngi Duu: Portable admits to confrontation, claims disrespectful gesture triggered clash

MThe recent incident involving an alleged physical assault on the emerging music...