FG Parliative: Investigate govt officials involved in diversion allegation —Nasarawa Assembly oders 7man panel

By David Okpashi

WORRIED by the public outcry over alleged diversion of the FG parliative in Nasarawa State, the State House of Assembly, Tuesday set up 7 man committee to investigate the alleged diversion of federal government palliaitives by government officials and some stakeholders in the state.

The 7 man committee is to ensure that all those involved in the diversion of the palliatives meant for the poor of the poorest are are brought to book and made to face the law.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi gave order while constituting the Committee on a matter of public importance brought before the House by Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar (NNPP, Doma South) during the House plenary in Lafia.

According to the Speaker, the House would not fold its arms and watch some disgruntled people in the state sabotaging the good intention of President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Abdullahi Sule in providing parliative to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal in Nasarawa state

The 7 man committee is made up of the Deputy Speaker, Abel Bala as Chairman, the Minority Leader, Hon Daniel Ogazi, Hon Musa Ibrahim, Hon Barr Esson Mairiga, Hon Hajara Danyaro, Hon Luka Zhekaba, and Hon Danladi Jatau as members while Barr. Safiya Balarabe is to serve as the Secretary

The Committee was given three weeks within which to carry out it’s assignment and report back 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 to appear before the committee and be give fair hearing at all levels of the committee’ meeting”, The Speaker stated.

” 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 will undertake the diversion of the palliatives for their personal use and their families”.

” Every leader have 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 allowed this to continue, people will judge us wrongly, posterity will condemn us and God Almighty will punish us” Balarabe declared.

While decrying the alleged diversion of the palliatives, especially rice, the speaker wondered why food items meant to assist those in need are sold to traders and found in the market places and urged the committee to do a thorough job assuring that those involved will be brought to book to serve as detetrint to others.

The Speaker who called for attitudinal change among political leaders, stakeholders and other Nigerians for the country to move forward. said for the country to move, Nigerians especially the politicians must change their ways of life.

Earlier, Member representing Doma South Constituency, Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar,while raising alleged that the palliatives meant for the poor in Doma LGA have been diverted by those involved in the distribution.

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

” List of the poor were generated and palliatives was distributed but 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.