By Safiu Kehinde
Angry reactions have trailed a letter purportedly emanating from the Chief of Staff to the President confirming the approval of N3bn to be spent by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on verification of social welfare register.
The letter, which was addressed to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, was signed by the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila.
“Please be informed that Mr. President has approved the expenditure of N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira Only) from the COvid 19 palliative funds for the verifications of the National Social Register.”
The letter was dated September 28,2023.
NPO Reports that The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Berta Edu is currently suspended while the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji -Ojo is to answer questions at the Code of Conduct Bureau on Tuesday.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, in his reaction on Monday questioned the use of a sum of N3 billion “for verification” of “National Social Register”
He said “Fela called it Authority stealing.
“They want the masses to continue to make sacrifices while the people in government continue to loot and live lavishly.
“Indeed, elections have consequences.”
A United Kingdom based Nigerian social affair analyst Kayode Ogundamisi, said the letter is better imagined as a fake one adding that the sum of N3bn for verification could not be explained.
In his tweet on his X handle on Monday, Ogundamisi called on the Chief of Staff to explain how a whole N3bn could be spent to verify the register.