FCT Minister warns against diversion of palliatives

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has warned officials handling the distribution of the palliative items against diversion. The minister also placed a curse on anyone who diverts palliative items meant for the poor. Aliyu, who gave the warning during the inspection of palliative items for Kwali Area Council, also charged relevant stakeholders […]

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has warned officials handling the distribution of the palliative items against diversion.

The minister also placed a curse on anyone who diverts palliative items meant for the poor.

Aliyu, who gave the warning during the inspection of palliative items for Kwali Area Council, also charged relevant stakeholders to be transparent in the discharge of their responsibilities, stressing that the programme is community based.

“Irrespective of ethnicity or religion, everyone that is representing his or her own group here must know that you are the eyes of your group. If you compromise, posterity will judge you. You must stand for your people and make sure that they are served.

“I beg you in the name of God, if you eat this food, you are indirectly inviting coronavirus to your homes. I swear, if you are not eligible and you divert these items, you will eat coronavirus. It is not food for campaign and not for you to do charity for your family members.

“If you want to do charity, go to the market and buy your own materials for charity. These palliatives are from the Federal Capital Territory Administration as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to be distributed to the poor to cushion the effect of sit-at-home.

“It is a community based programme, we want the community to own it but you can support us by obeying the rules, better still by sitting at home. We want the real data of beneficiaries by marking the houses because we don’t want to work on estimated figures. Do it the same way we conduct our census,” she said.

She added that there were allegations of trucks load of destitute being taken from other states to the FCT to participate in the sharing of the palliative items, adding that the authority will resist such attempt for the benefit of residents.