Controversy strikes FG’s disbursement of palliatives worth N300 million to senators, reps members

The federal government’s distribution of palliative items, totalling N200 million for senators and N100 million for members of the House of Representatives, has stirred controversy.

The Senate refuted reports that each of its members had counted the palliative items provided by FG for their constituents.

Yemi Adaramodu, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said he had yet to get any palliative goods from the federal government.

The House of Representatives also emphasized that members got rice from the federal government as part of a countrywide relief effort, rather than the N100 million reported in a recent viral video.

Akin Rotimi, chairman of the House committee on media and publicity, issued the explanation on Friday, January 5, in Abuja.

The Representatives member went on to say that the procurement procedure is at various levels depending on the constituency, but that no MP has been handed any money for palliatives.

On Thursday, Olusegun Dada, President Bola Tinubu’s special assistant on social media, announced the delivery of palliative products worth N200 million to senators and palliative things worth N100 million to House of Representatives members on his official X account.

Dennis Idahosa and Dekeri Anamero, two Edo state legislators, disagreed over the provision of truckloads of Christmas rice intended as palliatives by the federal government for federal MPs’ constituency.

Idahosa had requested an investigation into allegations that four-trailer loads of rice given to federal MPs were provided and distributed to their supporters.

Idahosa’s request for an investigation came after Anamero encouraged his fans in a viral social media video to demand from their MPs and senators the location of the sacks of rice sanctioned by President Tinubu for each of the 360 House of MPs members and 109 senators.

Idahosa, in a statement he personally signed, called his colleague’s claims “false,” “misleading,” and “capable of inciting constituents against lawmakers.”

Idahosa said in a statement titled “Notice of disclaimer” that no bag of rice was sent by the federal government for distribution to the residents of his electorate – Ovia Federal electorate.

He said: “federal government in its wisdom made provisions for a N100 million towards providing palliatives and development, the award letter for this purpose was released on the 15th of December, 2023, with the analysis of N50 million for provision of Rice and the other N50m for solar street lights.

“The procurement process which includes the BOQ to ascertain the number of bags of rice and solar street lights poles has not been issued to the contractor who won the bid for supply to the Federal Constituency, as at today this has not been concluded by the awarding ministry.

“I will also in the spirit of transparency and forthright service, call on the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Civil Society Organizations, Concerned Citizens of Edo and the Inspector General of Police to investigate the purported supplies of 2,400 bags of rice to me for distributions to my constituents.”

In the video Anamero said: “President Bola Tinubu ordered the ministry of Agriculture to allocate N100 million worth of rice and other grains to each of the 360 House of Representatives members to share to their constituents in December. For the 109 senators, the allocation was N200m worth of rice Palliatives to share.

“Please my people, did your honourable members or senators share Tinubu’s rice in your constituency this Christmas? Don’t mind if they branded it with their pictures,” he said.

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity said the rice distribution was made possible due to the Speaker’s lobbying efforts to secure additional palliatives for constituencies across the country.

He said the process, overseen by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, adhered to established public procurement regulations.

He added that legislators have the right to be present during distribution to take credit for bringing succour to the people.

The Reps Member further said the procurement process is at different stages, depending on the constituency, but to be clear, no legislator has been given any money for palliatives.

Meanwhile, aides to some Reps Members who requested anonymity because they were not permitted to speak on the matter in separate interviews, said their principals were yet to receive any palliative items from the government.

Reacting, the presidential aide, Dada said: “After initial logistics delay, I can now confirm that Senators and members of the House of Representatives have started taking stock of the Federal Government’s palliative items for their constituents as part of efforts to ease life for all Nigerians.

“Each HoR member received items worth N100m while Senatorial constituencies got palliative items worth N200m. ”