From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan has formally taken over in compliance with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
President Tinubu had suspended Betta Edu alongside the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), for allegedly diverting N585 million into a private account.
Daily Sun gathered that the letter was handed over to Enitan by one of the staff from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (oSGF) yesterday.
One of the officials of the Permanent Secretary who spoke to select journalists on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the letter was delivered to him, however said that the Permanent Secretary was the one in the best position to give update on the development.
He said: “When informed of the need to get the views of the Permanent Secretary in person, he said: “You know in civil service there’s no vacuum.
“And just like you are all aware, the President directed that the perm sec should oversee the affairs of the Ministry.
“So, the right person to talk to you is actually the Permanent Secretary. But he went out for a meeting now.
“But what I will do is, I will collect your number, when he comes back I’ll call you to repeat your visit.”
But when informed that we visited the Permanent Secretary on Monday and were informed that the Permanent Secretary was busy, and that such development suggested that he does not want to attend to the Media for no just reason, the official said: “he was in a meeting yesterday.
“Before God and man he was in a meeting. Why, he is holding public office.”
When informed that he (Permanent Secretary) cannot be claiming to be busy always thereby putting Nigerian public in suspense, the official said: “I just told you that, I’m meeting you for the first time and the right person to speak with you is the Perm Sec.
“But in terms of communicating to the Perm Sec, the Presidency has done that.
“He has been duly informed to take over.”
But when asked to speak on camera, he pleaded saying “if I am delegated to do that, I will do it gladly. But give me your number, I’ll definitely call you back.”
While awaiting his response to the message sent to him through one of the staff of the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary walked passed our Correspondent and other Journalists who were waiting to interview him on the development.