- The House has tasked the committee to ensure that those involved in diverting palliatives for the poorest are punished according to the laws of the land
- The speaker granted the committee three weeks to conduct a comprehensive investigation and provide its findings to the House for appropriate action
A 7-person committee has been established by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to look into allegations of drug diversion by state stakeholders and elected officials.
The committee was given a mandate by the House to see that everyone guilty of stealing medications intended for the lowest of the poor is brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, Speaker of the Assembly, in response to a matter of public interest raised in plenary in Lafia by Mr. Musa Abubakar (NNPP-Doma South).
The speaker promised that the assembly will never remain silent as some individuals sabotaged President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule’s noble efforts to mitigate the effects of the elimination of fuel subsidies in the country.
“Members of the 7-man 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, while the Secretary of the committee is Barr. Safiya Balarabe,” he said.
The speaker gave the committee three weeks to do 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 therir colleague 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,” he said.
Abdullahi, who alleged that most of the palliatives, especially rice, were 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 deterent to others.
“Every leader have three judgements: judgment of the people, judgment of posterity and the judgment of God.
“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 conscience.
“If we allow this thing to continue, people will judge us wrongly, posterity will condemn us and God Almighty will punish us,” he said.
The speaker called for attitudinal change among political leaders, stakeholders, public officers and other Nigerians for the country to move forward.
In their contributions, Messers Danladi Jatau, Solomon Akwashiki, Musa Saidu and Hajara Danyaro, all supported the idea of setting up committee to unravel alleged diversion of the palliatives meant for the poor.
They said that the essence of the distribution of the palliatives would be defeated if those involved in the alleged diversion go unpunished in the state.
They said that the Federal and Nasarawa State Governments provided the palliatives for the poor irrespective of political and other affiliations, and wondered why some people have been denied the palliatives.
Earlier, Mr Musa Abubakar, member representing Doma South constituency, 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 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 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 N5,000 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.
He called for punitive measures for all those that diverted the palliatives to serve as deterrent to others.