Executive Director, National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, (NCSCN), comrade Blessing Akinlosotu, has appealed to Nigerians to consider the good work the minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has been doing and end calls for his resignation over the contracts scandal rocking the federal ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Made up of over 500 Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs), the group at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, argued that there is clear evidence the Minister and his wife have resigned from the Board of Directors of the company and hereby cease to control the company.
“It will be erroneous and out of place to expect a company established to render service and create job opportunities to be shut down just because a former director has decided to serve in the status of a public servant, we frown at this mob judgement and call on Nigerians to restrain.”
Tunji-Ojo cane under criticism following the controversy surrounding the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu’s award of contracts worth N3 billion under questionable circumstances.
A leaked memo revealed that a company, New Planet Project Limited, founded by the minister and his wife, benefited and was awarde a contract worth N438 million as consultancy for the verification of the National Social Register, (NSR). the ministry.
However, the minister has since denied any wrong doing or breach of public service rules claiming as he has resigned as director of the company and does not partake in its running.
Also a communique issued at the end of the meeting signed by Comrade Akinlosotu, contains that in less than three months Tunji-Ojo had shown tremendous work and that his involvement in fraud was doubtful.
Akinlosotu said, “Today it is evident that the Ministers can deliver on their mandates. The Minister of Interior has proven that there is hope in the present Government,” therefore Nigerians should not throw the baby with the bath water.
The group therefore, expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s will to tackle insecurity, saying that “the Council is confident that efforts of the President towards improving Security and economic welfare of Nigerian gradually yielding positive results.
“The civil society community also commend the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce the size of entourages of the executive aimed at cutting down the cost of governance. We hereby call on both the legislature and the judiciary to follow suit, in other to save our economy,” it concludes.
