Rt. Hon Abel Yakubu Bala, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee investigating alleged diversion of palliatives by some government officials and stakeholders in the State has expressed dissatisfaction with the distribution of palliative in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area.

Hon Abel Yakubu Bala, expressed the committee’s displeasure when Hon Ibrahim Uthman Angbolo, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chairman Nassarawa Eggon LGA, Hon Danlami Idris, represented by his Deputy, Hon Ben Manga and Overseer, Akun Development Area, Hon Moses Anvah appeared before the committee in Lafia today.

Also appeared before the committee today in Lafia was Dr Nawani Aboki, Special Adviser to Gov. Sule, Overseer of Ekye Development Area, Hon Bello Akoza with Councillors from Ekye Development Area.

Hon Abel said that the invitation extended to them was in order to enable the committee know their roles in the distribution of the palliative in their respective areas.

” We are working based on the mandate given to us to unravel all forms of malpractices during the distribution of the palliatives.

” As the palliatives were meant for the poorest of the poor, that is the most vulnerable ones in the state.

” We are not here to witch hunt anybody but to get information on how you distributed the palliative,” he said.

Hon Abel urged those invited to give sincere and truthful information, adding that they are speaking on Oath.

The Committee chairman said that any one found wanting would be punished accordingly.

” I understand you people held a meeting in Nassarawa Eggon yesterday and outlined those to be giving the palliatives for the 2nd phase and my name and that of Hon. Kudu were inside, go and remove our names immediately we are not part of the beneficiaries, even in my own immediate ward in Mada Station, money for the palliatives did not get to the beneficiaries instead are pocketed by some individuals and Nassarawa Eggon rice are found in Akwanga market “He said.

On his part, Dr Nawani Aboki, the Special Adviser to Gov. Abdullahi Sule on Media and Publicity said that he was not in charge of distribution in Ekye Development Area.

Aboki said that they used councillors, traditional rulers among other groups to generate list of the vulnerable persons for the distribution.

The Information Commissioner on his part said that a committee was set up across the 14 wards of Nassarawa Eggon LGA to ensure equitable distribution of the palliative as directed by the state government.

They said that Gov. Abdullahi Sule has done the symbolic presentation while the various palliative committees have done the distribution of the palliative in their various wards.

Disatisfying with their explanations, Hon Abel Bala, the Chairman of the Committee has asked them to go back and return next week Tuesday with the Chairmen of their local government areas for more explanation.

When appearing before the committee, Hon Ibrahim Uthman Angbolo, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chairman Nassarawa Eggon LGG, Hon Danlami Idris represented by his Deputy, Hon Ben Manga and Overseer, Akun Development Area explained their roles in the distribution of the palliative.

Disatisfying with their explanations on the distribution of the palliative, Rt. Hon. Abel Bala, the Chairman of the Committee has asked them to go back and come next week Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 by 2pm.

The committee expressed dismay with the way the process was carried out in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area.

The committee further revealed that those who appeared has testified that some traditional rulers, political aids and security agents benefited stressing that they are not supposed to be part of the beneficiaries.

Those to appear before the committee next week Tuesday are Chairmen of Nassarawa Eggon LG, Doma LG and Nasarawa LG while Commissioners to appear are those of Finance as well as that of Information, Overseers to appear are those of Akun, Agidi and Ekye Dev. Areas respectively.

Generally, the Committee has so far commended the exercise in Akwanga, Lafia, Obi, Keana, Awe and Toto LGAs expresses dissatisfaction with exercise in Nassarawa Eggon, Karu, Nasarawa and Wamba LGAs.