Nasarawa Assembly Constitutes 7-Man Committee To Investigate Alleged Looting Of Palliatives By Government Officials
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) has set up a 7-man committee to investigate the alleged looting of palliatives by officials of the Nasarawa State Government and some notable stakeholders in the State.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi set-up the committee when the issue came up under matters of public interest brought by Hon. Musa Ibrahim Abubakar (NNPP- Doma South) during the House proceedings today (Tuesday September 12, 2023) in Lafia.
The Speaker said the House would never fold its hands to watch some people sabotage what he described as the good intentions of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule in providing palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal in the country.
The committee is to be chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abel Bala while Hon. Musa Ibrahim, Hon. Barr. Esson Mairiga, Hon. Hajara Danyaro and Hon. Daniel Ogazi are members of the committee.
Other members of the committee are the Minority Leader of the House Hon. Luka Zhekaba and Hon. Danladi Jatau while Barr. Safiya Balarabe is to serve as secretary of the committee.
Giving the committee three weeks to do a thorough investigation and present its report, the House assured that all those involved in diverting palliatives ordinarily meant for the poorest of the poor, will be punished according to the laws of the land.
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 are sold to traders and found in the market places, 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 judgments that await him. One is the judgment of the people, then 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 free conscience,” 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.
Earlier, Hon. Musa Ibrahim Abubakar, Member representing Doma South Constituency 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 the Speaker of the House and his other colleagues to support him by setting up a committee to investigate the alleged diversion of the palliatives.
“Mr. Speaker and honourable 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.
“Lists of the poor were generated and palliatives were 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.
“The government said that the palliatives is for all, devoid of interest and irrespective of party affiliations,” he said.
Hon Musa called for punitive measures for all those that diverted the palliatives to serve as deterrent to others.
