By Ishaya Ibrahim
A document that has widely circulated on social media shows that a whopping N585.198 million designated as grants for vulnerable Nigerians in four States of the federation, was paid to the account of an individual, Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.
Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, confirmed through her spokesperson, Rasheed Zubair that she ordered the payment.
According to the document, Edu made the request to the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to send public funds to the private account.
Zubair, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister, said the N585.198 million payment was for the vulnerable group following due process.
The SA added that the payment of the grant to the account of an individual, Oniyelu Bridget, was because the fellow currently serves as the Project Accountant of Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
The letter from the minister with reference number: FMHAPA/HQ/OHM/S.208 to the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Madein dated December 20, 2023, had asked that over N585 million should be sent to a private account.
The letter signed by the minister, Dr Edu, is titled ‘Mandate for Payment of Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States Respectively’.
Speaking on the money, the minister through her SA explained that the payment of the N585.198 million grant was meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states.
“For the avoidance, the said N585m was approved, and it is meant to implement grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.
“We must note that GVG was first launched in Kogi State, where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023. Kogi already happened in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.
“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the Federal Government, which the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is implementing.
“Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance, and it is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant, to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire the same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed”, he stated.
