A group, Concerned Civil Society Organisation of Nigeria, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint Dr. Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in replacement of the suspended minister, Dr Betta Edu, in his proposed cabinet reshuffle.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Addressing journalists Friday in Abuja, the Convener, Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria, Comrade Aminu Abbas, said, though Tejuosho is not holding any political appointment at the moment, she has shown through her philanthropic and humanitarian activities that she is the most qualified to head the humanitarian ministry.
He said: “In keeping with the our mandate of poverty alleviation, job creation and youth empowerment, we are worried with the continued vacancy at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation following the sack of Dr. Beta Edu for alleged corruption and fraud.
“No doubt, her sack has left the Ministry without a Minister with devastating effects on livelihoods of vulnerable and impoverished Nigerians since the Ministry is strategic to the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“It is, therefore, in a bid lend our voice to Mr. President’s search for a capable replacement and the earnest desire of Nigerians that we have gathered you here to articulate our common position and passionately appeal for the appointment of Dr. Halima Adenike Tejuosho as a credible replacement due to her impactful antecedents in philanthropy and humanitarian services even as a private citizen.
“As a Coalition of over 120 Civil society organisations with over 17 million financial members across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), our gathering here is purely a patriotic exercise based on popular demand.
“Even though we are nonpartisan and it’s ordinarily not in our power to recommend anybody for Mr. President for any appointment, the life of Dr. Halima Adenike Tejuosho has convinced is that she’s credible, capable and competent to serve as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“With the abysmal performance of Dr. Beta Edu and her eventual sack, we beamed out searchlight across the country in a search of a worthy candidate to recommend to Mr. President and she has met all our criteria. As a Coalition of CSOs, we have been close to the suffering masses and anything that can be done to better their lives will definitely lessen our work and enable us focus on other mandates that we pursue.
“With growing calls from all quarters, mostly from People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), senior citizens, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), victims of natural disasters and insecurity as well as other stakeholders for the immediate appointment of a suitable candidate to fill in the vacuum at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, we are convinced that Dr.
“Halimat Adenike Tejuosho who has over the years distinguished herself as a true humanitarian is the ideal candidate who will put smiles on the faces of Nigerians through diligent service and patriotic stewardship. With the removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant hardship it has brought, vulnerable Nigerians are in dire need of humanitarian support to enable them cope of the harsh realities.
“As a selfless patriot who has been using her personal resources to bring succour to senior citizens, PWDs and the less privileged through her well thought out Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation (QATFoundation), giving her a position of responsibility in line with her passion and interest will energize her to do more for the downtrodden of our society.”
He added: “As a mark of true philanthropy, the quintessential lady is known nationally for her annual Children’s Day celebrations with vulnerable and indigent children. Through this outreach, over 10 million school books, bags, shoes, water bottles, foodstuffs and writing materials have been shared so far. Her Ramadan largesse to over 1000 PWDs as well as Sallah packages to hundreds of households who could not afford to celebrate the festivities cannot be forgotten.
“Judging by all the individual sacrifices and the sheer passion to touch lives, we are appealing to Mr. President to urgently consider filling the vacuum created with the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu by appointing Dame Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to enable Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda especially in the area of poverty alleviation.
“It goes without saying that since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been without a Minister, Government has been failing in providing basic succour to the less privileged. From her antecedents and if given the opportunity, Dr. Hajiya Halimat Adenike Tejuosho, will continue to extend her generosity and passion to bring a turn around in the fortunes of the less privileged and downtrodden in Nigeria.
“Just recently and in keeping with her intervention works using the instrumentality of QATFoundation, Dr. Halimat Adenike Tejuosho deployed relief materials worth millions of naira to victims of the devastating floods in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital caused by the collapse of Alau Dam. She equally paid a visit to the scene to see first hand the extent of damage and the needs of the affected persons. Such compassion and selflessness must be rewarded to enable her do more for the needy and even exceed the mandate of the ministry.
“Regardless of her state of origin and the quota system, we are united with one voice without any external influence in making this appeal, emphasizing that merit rather than politics should be followed in choosing a replacement for the sacked Minister. It’ll be a privilege to appoint this selfless woman as a Minister because we are very sure will deliver.
“This is our collective resolve born out of the conviction that with the support she has been giving people in the community for over 10 years, she’s the right person for the job. Politics, region and other considerations should be put aside to allow competence and merit to prevail.”