Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced that, following the recent cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu, Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, has officially been removed from her ministerial role.
”Betta Edu is gone,” Onanuga declared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“She was suspended in January and this is October. She is gone, officially. Her position has been taken over by the Plateau man.
“As far as this government is concerned, there is no more place for her in this cabinet,” the presidential spokesman said, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) might have submitted some information that justified her dismissal.
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To replace Edu, President Tinubu appointed Nentawe Yilwatda, a Plateau native and lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi in Benue State, on Thursday. The President has requested the Senate’s confirmation of Yilwatda’s appointment along with six others.
”Betta Edu is gone. Her position has been taken by someone from Plateau State…As far as this government is concerned, there is no place for her in this cabinet..”
In August 2023, about three months after his inauguration as Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu appointed 48 ministers.
Among them, he named Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Oil and Ekperipe Ekpo as Minister of State for Gas, while retaining the role of senior petroleum minister for himself, as did his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
In January 2024, one of Tinubu’s ministers, Betta Edu, was suspended over allegations related to the approval of N585,198,500.00 to be transferred to a personal account. Another minister, Simon Lalong, resigned to take up a seat in the Senate.
Following Edu’s suspension, the President instructed EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede to launch a thorough investigation into the financial dealings within the ministry and associated agencies.
Facing criticism over economic challenges, high inflation, and security issues, Tinubu’s administration has come under scrutiny for ministerial performance since the appointments began 15 months prior.
On Wednesday, in response to mounting calls for change, Tinubu reshuffled his cabinet, dismissing five ministers, reassigning 10, and appointing seven new officials.
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