Controversy has erupted following the alleged issuance of a memo by President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu. The memo disclosed that President Tinubu authorized the release of N3 billion for the verification of the National Social Register, a scheme established during the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The National Social Register was initially created to facilitate cash transfers and other social investment initiatives. However, the allocation of N3 billion to the suspended minister has raised eyebrows, as it reportedly led to the awarding of contracts to several enterprises. This development is currently under scrutiny and investigation by presidential investigators and anti-graft authorities.
Daily Trust reports that the focus of the investigation includes unraveling how the funds were disbursed and the nature of the contracts awarded. The memo in question, titled “CONVEYANCE OF APPROVAL; RE: APPEAL TO USE N3,000,000,000.00 (THREE BILLION NAIRA) FROM THE COVID-19 PALLIATIVE FUND FOR VERIFICATION OF THE NATIONAL SOCIAL REGISTER,” was attributed to Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff.
Numerous companies, including New Planet Project Limited owned by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, were named as recipients of the controversial contract. New Planet Project Limited received a substantial N438.1 million for consultancy services. Other companies such as Periscope Consulting, Blue Trend Enterprise, Laitop Dynamics Interlink Services, Memak Nigeria Limited, MC Van Management Consult Limited, and Danzinger Nigeria Limited also received significant amounts from the N3 billion contracts.
The investigation aims to scrutinize the legitimacy of these contracts and the veracity of the claims made by the contractors, who asserted that they verified 11 million homes in Nigeria in under one month. The unfolding controversy highlights the need for transparency and accountability in the disbursement of public funds for social welfare initiatives.
