The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has set up seven-man committee to investigate the alleged diversion of palliative by government officials and stakeholders in the state.
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.
The Speaker of the House, Balarabe Abdullahi set up the Committee under a matter of public interest brought by Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar ( NNPP- Doma South) during the House proceedings in Lafia.
Cushion the effects
He 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 committees are, the Deputy Speaker of the House as Chairman, Hon Abel Bala, 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.
Positive contributions
The Speaker appreciated Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar for coming up with the matter and calling 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,” he noted.
The Speaker, who alleged that most of the palliatives, especially rice were 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 deterrents to others.
” Every leader has three judgments await him, one the Judgement of the people, the judgment of posterity, and the judgment 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’s judgment with a free conscience,
“If we allow this thing to continue, people will judge us wrongly, posterity will condemn us and God Almighty will punish us” he emphasised.
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.
Diversion
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.
Meanwhile, a member representing Doma South Constituency, Hon Musa Ibrahim, while raising the issue said that the palliatives meant for the poor in Doma LGA have been diverted by those involved in the distribution.
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 in terms of the N5000 as approved by the government to N2,000 and N1, 500.
” The government said that the palliatives are for all, devoid of interest and irrespective of party affiliations,” he said.
Honourable Musa called for punitive measures for all those who diverted the palliatives to serve as deterrents to others.
Lateefah Ibrahim
