Betta Edu Reacts To Report Of Transferring N25bn CCT Fund To Defence Minister

Betta Edu Reacts To Report Of Transferring N25bn CCT Fund To Defence Minister

On Wednesday, Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, refuted reports alleging the misallocation of the N25 billion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) designated for retired Military Pensioners to the Minister of Defence.

The denial was conveyed through a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Rasheed Zubair. In the statement, it was emphasized that the Ministry has neither disbursed nor intends to disburse any funds allocated for the Renewed Hope Cash Transfer to any individual or group.

Mr. Zubair clarified that all approved funds, following the confirmation of beneficiary details, are slated to be directly transferred to them through their bank accounts. This process is designed to be transparent and verifiable, aligning with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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He said: “The attention of the Honourable Minister For Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has been drawn to a fake news item in the media and public spaces alleging N25 billion purportedly meant for the Retired Military Pensioners from the Conditional Cash Transfer Funds has been given to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru Abubakar.

“The general public is urged to disregard this report as it is not only fake but a deliberate, malicious and insipid attempt by mischief makers, disgruntled elements and enemies of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration to tarnish the image and integrity of the Honourable Minister.

“For the records, at no time did the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation give or contemplate giving funds meant for the Pensioners of the Retired Military personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces to Ministers or Ministries.

“For the avoidance of doubt, 17,077 Veterans, and 264,560 Pensioners list were submitted to National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), in the third week of November and the process of in-person verification of the names submitted by the Nigerian Legion and the Pensioners group is still ongoing.

“Similarly, the office responsible for the verification of the register under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is doing a painstaking job, of working with the World Bank. All the captured retired veterans who meet the criteria and pensioners will be paid once the rigorous verification exercise is completed.

“The Members of the public, especially the media are hereby informed by this press release that the ministry has not released or planning to release any money meant for the Renewed Hope Cash Transfer to any individual or group.

“In line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, all funds upon confirmation of the beneficiaries’ details, are to be sent directly to them through their bank accounts and are verifiable.

“The good intention of Mr President to expand the National Social Register and commence payment of the N25,000 for three months to accommodate the veterans of the Nigerian Armed Forces, which is a novel idea and the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria, should be appreciated by Nigerians and not allow themselves to be distracted or misinformed by naysayers,” Mr Zubair said in the statement.