Nasarawa Assembly Summon 2 Commissioners, Council Chairmen Over Alleged Diversion Of Palliatives

Rabiu Omaku

Two Commissioners in Nasarawa State and two Local Government Chairmen were summoned to appear before the State House of Assembly on Monday 16th October 2023 for questioning over alleged diversion of palliative.

The affected Commissioners and their Chairmen are those from Karu the gateway to the Federal Capital Territory and Wamba Local Government Area respectively.

The House committee constituted to verify how palliative was shared in some Local Governments directed the two cabinet members and Chairmen to appear and clear the air over the allegations.

It would be recalled that there was alleged diversion of palliatives by some Government officials and stakeholders recently.

The State lawmakers applauded the Council Chairman of Akwanga, Hon Safiyanu Isa Andaha, for his efforts in ensuring that the palliatives get to the poorest of the poor in the area.

Rt. Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala, the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker of the House gave the commendation when the Chairman appeared before the committee to clear some grey areas.

He said that for the second phase of the distribution of the palliative, the committee was satisfied with the distribution exercise in Akwanga Local Government Area.

Hon Abel said that the committee decided to call on them in order to know how the palliatives provided by the Federal and Nasarawa State Governments were distributed in their local government areas.

” Chairman, Akwanga Local Government Area, you have done well in the distribution of the second phase of the palliative.

” Please keep it up in the interest of your people and for the overall development of the area,” he said

Earlier, Hon Safiyanu Isa Andaha, the Chairman, Akwanga Local Government Area said that the second phase of the palliative was done transparently.

He gave details of the exercise saying the poorest of the poor got palliative in the Local Government as directed by the State Government

The chairman of the council assured that he would continue to do the needful at all times in the interest of peace and development of the area.

Also appearing before the committee were Hon Hashiru Bala Suleiman, and Hon James Thomas, the Chairmen of Wamba and Karu Local Government Areas respectively.

The LG Chairmen explained how they distributed palliative and presented before the committee documents containing the mode of their palliative distribution.

Rt. Hon Abel Yakubu Bala, the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker of the House while speaking said the committee will ensure that those found wanting are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

He maintained that the committee has extended its invitation to the Chairmen of Local Government Areas and overseers of Panda and Karshi, Prof. Dakari Rabo and Hon Ibrahim Arafat respectively in order to get information on how they shared their palliatives.

Dissatisfied with their explanations, Hon Abel directed the Chairman of Wamba LGA to reappear with Hon Muazu Gosho, Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport representing Wamba LG on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, by 11 a.m. for more information.

He also directed that the Chairman of Karu, Hon James Thomas, Karu Legislative arm to also appear before the committee alongside the Commissioners representing Karu on Monday, Oct.16, 2023, by 11 am.

” We are not satisfied with the report of Karu Local Government Area.

” The Chairman with his councilors alongside the Commissioners representing Karu LGA should appear before this committee next week Monday,” he said.

Those that also appeared before the committee at the day sitting were Hon Salihu Adamu, Hon Shuaibu Umar, the Overseers of Udege and Loko Development Areas with all the councilors of Nasarawa Legislative Council where they gave an explanation on how the rice and money were distributed in Nasarawa Local Government Area.

The Chairman of the committee said that the committee would recommend appropriate measures to the House against those found wanting in the distribution of the palliative.