PRESIDENCY: WE WON’T SPARE ANYONE FOUND CULPABLE IN HUMANITARIAN MINISTRY SCANDAL

the establishment of a Special Presidential Panel to be led by Mr Wale Edun.

The SPP, comprised of ministers representing strategic sectors and would ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the reform effort, included the coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance as Chairman, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate as member.

Other members were the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris; Minister of Communications,

Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani; and the Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande.

Meanwhile, the presidential spokesman has clarified that the speculations of a possible cabinet reshuffling by the president would have to wait until the ongoing investigations had provided conclusive ends.

Some media outlets had in the wake of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs' blow out, as well as the suspension of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency's (NSIPA) activities, following allegations of financial impropriety, reported purported cabinet reshuffling soon.

But Ajuri, while reacting, said, “At this point, it is in the realm of speculation. What is not in the realm of speculation, however, is that the President has ordered a thorough investigation. And wherever that investigation takes him, he will act accordingly.

“I do think that the president would not make such a move until he has a clear idea of exactly what that investigation has unearthed and whether or not there are other officials of the government that he feels would need to be roped into such an exercise on the basis of whatever the findings of that investigation are," he said.

Furthermore, Ngelale said, “It is only natural to drive such stories, particularly if there’s even a whisper that such a thing could occur.

“But I think it’s important that we do not preempt the activities of the president. The president is fully aware of all factors related to what people are doing and not doing within his administration.

“He does have a special adviser on policy and coordination in the person of Hadiza Bala-Usman, who is also monitoring the activities of the MDAs with respect to performance-related issues, and he has all of that information at any point in time," he said.