News
Coalition Lauds Tinubu For Suspending NSIPA National Coordinator
Tobi Amusan
The Nigerian Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (NCCSO) has applauded President Bola Tinubu for approving the immediate suspension and investigation of the National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, over alleged financial impropriety.
The commendation came shortly after President Tinubu relieved Halima Shehu her position as NSIPA CEO on January 2, 2024, during a press conference addressed by the leader of NCCSO, Abimbola Ademola in Abuja.
Prior to this development, Halima Shehu was said to have made unapproved withdrawal of over N44 billion in collaboration with Director of Finance, Hamza Buwai.
An inside source at NSIPA had revealed to newsmen at the eve of 2024 that over N44 billion withdrawn from NSIPA coffers in the last 5 days by the National Coordinator and Director of Finance was without the approval of the President or the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The source further stated that “the Director of Finance whose last day in office was 29th December 2023 is still presently moving government funds from the NSIPA account. Information reaching us from an insider in the accounts department stated that the accountant is notorious for such and is even presently indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for Monies embezzled in the last administration.
Addressing newsmen over President Tinubu’s suspension of Halima Shehu, the Coalition saluted the president for demonstrating zero tolerance to corruption or fraud in governance, stressing that his swift action will serve as a deterrent to other appointees that it is no more business as usual.
“Before now, we know President Tinubu does not tolerate corruption, we know he will not allow any appointee to set his renewed hope agenda back, so we are pleased that he not only suspended the National Coordinator of NSIPA but ordered investigation, people need to start paying for their deeds.
“This kind of approach is what we need and it is a clear sign that Mr President has zero tolerance for corruption, it is also a sign that it is not going to be business as usual, all ministers and appointees should take note,” Ademola stressed.
It will be recalled that, Halima Shehu oversaw the questionable disbursement of $322.5 million returned Abacha loot during her time as Coordinator of National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), an exercise that was largely described by many Nigerians as “opaque”.
The Senate, had on 18th October 2023, confirmed the appointment of Halima Shehu as the new National Coordinator of NSIPA.
The suspended NSIPA boss was the National Coordinator of Conditional Cash Transfer during the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and a close ally of the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who is facing a probe over N37 billion allegedly laundered under her watch through a contractor, James Okwete.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in a short statement posted on her known X handle had dissociated herself from the contractor recently arrested over allegations of fraud and money laundering from the humanitarian ministry under Mrs Umar-Farouk’s watch.
She said in her tweet that the contractor, “James Okwete, was unknown to her and that his alleged association with her was spurious.”
News
Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12
Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.
In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.
Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.
“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.
Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.
“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.
Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.
“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.
“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.
Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.
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