Nasarawa Palliatives: How Beneficiaries Were Shortchanged, Instead Of N5,000 Approved By The Governor, They Were Given N1,500, N2,000

Rabiu Omaku

……as assembly set up a 7-man committee

Nasarawa State House of Assembly, irked over the increasing cases of diversion of Federal and State Government palliatives has set up a 7-man committee to investigate the alleged diversion of the palliatives by Government officials and party stakeholders, The lawmakers vowed to deal with anyone found wanting, no matter how highly placed…”

The House said that the committee is to ensure that all those involved in diverting palliatives meant for the poor of the poorest are punished according to the laws of the land.

Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House set up the Committee under a matter of public interest brought by Hon Musa Ibrahim (NNPP- Doma South) during the House proceedings.

Hon Musa called for punitive measures for all those who diverted the palliatives to serve as deterrents to others, adding that those in charge of the distribution short-changed the beneficiaries even when the Governor approved the sum of N5000 but either N2,000 and N1,500 was disbursed to the beneficiaries.

The, Member representing Doma South Constituency while raising the issue said that the palliatives meant for the poor in Doma Local Government have been diverted by those involved in the distribution.

” The government said that the palliatives is for all, devoid of interest and irrespective of party affiliations,” he said.

He appealed to Mr Speaker and other colleagues to support him by setting up a committee to investigate the alleged diversion of the palliatives.

” Mr. Speaker and Hon colleagues, it is a matter of public interest and very urgent. It is on the issue of the diversion of palliatives meant for the poor in the state.

“A list of the poor was generated and palliatives were distributed, but the majority of the poor did not get the palliatives. majority of the palliatives were diverted by those involved in the distribution and beneficiaries were also shortchanged.

On their contributions, Hon Danladi Jatau, Hon Solomon Akwashiki, Hon Hajara Danyaro and Hon Musa Saidu, all supported the idea of setting up a committee to unravel the alleged diversion of the palliatives meant for the poor.

They said that the essence of the distribution of the palliatives will be defeated if those involved in the alleged diversion go unpunished in the state.

They said that the Federal and Nasarawa State Governments provided palliatives for the poor irrespective of political and other affiliations and wondered why some people have been denied in getting the palliatives.

The Speaker said that the House would never fold its hands to watch some people sabotaging the good intentions of President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Abdullahi Sule in providing palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal in the country.

According to him, the 7 main committee are Hon Abel Bala, the Deputy Speaker of the House as Chairman, Hon Musa Ibrahim, Hon Barr Esson Mairiga, Hon Hajara Danyaro, Hon Luka Zhekaba, the Minority Leader of the House, Hon Daniel Ogazi and Hon Danladi Jatau as members of the committee and the Secretary of the committee is Barr. Safiya Balarabe.

The Speaker gave the committee three weeks to do a thorough investigation and report back its findings to the House for appropriate action.

” I will give you three weeks to do your work and report back to the House and all those involved must be invited at the committee level,” he said.

The Speaker appreciated Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar for coming up with the matter and all members for their positive contributions on the issue.

” It is sad and very disappointing that some people are sabotaging the good intention of Mr. President and Gov. Sule in alleviating the suffering of the poor.

” The purpose of the palliatives is to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal. I don’t know why some people diverted most of the palliatives for their personal use and their families.

The Speaker, who alleged that most of the palliatives, especially rice is sold to traders and found in the marketplaces, urged the committee to do a thorough job and those involved will be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

” Every leader has three judgements await him, one the Judgement of the people, the judgement of posterity and the judgement of God Almighty. We must do the right thing at all times so that posterity will judge us rightly, the people will also judge us right and also face God Almighty judgment with free conscious, ” he said.

” if we allow this thing to continue, people will judge us wrongly, posterity will condemn us and God Almighty will punish us” He emphasized.

The Speaker called for attitudinal change among political leaders, stakeholders and other Nigerians for the country to move forward.

” If this country must move forward, we must change our attitude “the Speaker added.