10th January, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has debunked insinuations that it is delaying the delivery of rice allocated to National Assembly members for distribution to people in their federal constituencies and senatorial districts by President Bola Tinubu.
National Assembly members have been under pressure from Nigerians over alleged failure to deliver the rice largesse from the President to people acdoss the country.
The President, according to reports, had allocated bags of rice worth N100 million and N200 million respectively to each Senator and House of Representatives member for distribution to their people during the Yuletide.
However, the alleged failure of the National Assembly members to deliver the rice consignmemts has attracted criticisms, with many commentators accusing them of hoarding the presidential largesse.
On its part, the House of Representatives had in a statement blamed the delay in the delivery of the rice consignments on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“The procurement process is at different stages depending on the constituency, but to be clear, no legislator has, nor will be given any money for palliatives.
“The procurement and distribution of the palliatives is being handled by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.”
“We must further clarify that the timing of the distribution is not in the hands of any Honourable Member.
“The entire process is under the control of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Some constituencies have received theirs, while others are yet being processed.
“We call for patience, as no constituency would be left behind,” Rep. Akin Rotimi, Spokesman/ Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity said in a statement last Saturday.
However, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food security in a statement by its Director of Information Dr Joel Oruche on Tuesday said the so called rice allocation were constituency projects budgeted for under the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation and domiciled in the Ministry.
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is not distributing any palliative.
“The issue under reference concerns constituency projects budgeted for under the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation and domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“It is common knowledge that funds for National Assembly constituency projects are domiciled in the relevant Ministry for purposes of implementation.”
The statement said implementation process for the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation is on-going.
“Constituency projects in this instance cover a range of needs of the constituents including staple grains and some agricultural infrastructure as determined by respective members of the National Assembly,” he said.