Betta Edu denies transferring N25bn CCT fund to Defence Minister

On Wednesday, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, rejected a report on an allegation that bothered the transfer of a N25 billion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) intended for retired military pensioners to the Minister of Defense.

Special Advisor on Media and Public Affairs to the Minister, Mr. Rasheed Zubair, released a statement that included the rejection.

While pointing out that the Ministry has not released, nor plans to release, any funds intended for the Renewed Hope Cash Transfer to any person or organization, Mr. Zubair revealed that all approved funds, upon verification of the beneficiaries’ information, will be sent directly to them through their bank accounts and are verifiable, in accordance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive.

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“A fake news item in the media and public spaces alleging that N25 billion allegedly meant for the Retired Military Pensioners from the Conditional Cash Transfer Funds has been given to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has drawn the attention of the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu,” he said.

People who are discontent, adversaries of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration, and miscreants are asked to ignore this news as it is not only fake but also a calculated, malevolent, and inane attempt to damage the reputation and honor of the Honourable Minister.

As per the records, the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation never gave or considered giving Ministers or Ministries money intended for the pensioners of retired military personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.”Just to be clear, in the third week of November, the Nigerian Legion and the Pensioners group submitted a list of 17,077 Veterans and 264,560 Pensioners to the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO). The process of physically verifying the names is still in progress.

Analogously, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation’s office in charge of verifying the register is laboriously working with the World Bank. Upon completion of the meticulous verification process, all captured retired warriors who fulfill the requirements and pensions will get payment.

This press statement informs the public, particularly the media, that the ministry has not distributed any funds intended for the Renewed Hope Cash Transfer to any specific person or organization, nor does it aim to do so.

Following verification of the recipients’ information, all money are to be delivered directly to them through their bank accounts and are verifiable, per President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s direction.

“Nigerians should appreciate the novel idea and first of its kind in the country’s history—the President’s good intention to expand the National Social Register and begin paying N25,000 for three months to accommodate veterans of the Nigerian Armed Forces—and not allow themselves to be misled or distracted by naysayers,” Mr. Zubair stated in the statement.