As public outcry continues to trail a video showing a member of the House of Representatives, Dekeri Anamero of Etsako Federal Constituency thanking President Bola Tinubu for giving each lawmaker, two trailers of rice for distribution to their constituents, leadership of the house has openly confirmed the ‘Presidential Christmas Gift’.
In the viral online video, Anamero is seen with bags of rice on his background, saying they were Christmas palliatives from the federal government. He said: “I want to appreciate Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu for deeming it fit to give all the members of the House of Representatives, palliatives of grains. Here you have two trailers of rice, one on the right and one on the left. I prepare these for my constituents…”
Some comments under the video had claimed that the lawmakers also received a N100m gift in addition to the trailer loads of rice. However, the house, on Friday afternoon acknowledged that its members indeed received rice from the Federal Government as part of a nationwide palliative effort, and not N100 million as claimed by some Nigerians.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, Akin Rotimi, in Abuja.
He explained that the rice ‘palliative’ was made possible due to the Speaker’s lobbying efforts to secure additional palliatives for constituencies across the country.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security supervised the rice distribution to ensure that established public procurement regulations were strictly adhered to.
The statement reads in part, “The House of Representatives is monitoring a trending topic on social media, relating to the distribution of palliatives by Honourable Members, and in line with our Legislative Agenda which promises responsive, timely, and accurate information, the People’s House considers it necessary to respond to Nigerians to clarify issues.
“To be clear, no legislator has, nor will be given any money for palliatives. While, as politicians, Honourable Members may be visible during the process of distribution, and rightfully take the credit for bringing succour to the people, the procurement and and distribution of the palliatives is being handled by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“The pro-people position of the Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen Phd – led House of Representatives, on the need for the Federal Government to expedite palliative measures to support vulnerable Nigerians, is well documented. This is on account of the hardship Nigerians are experiencing following the removal of fuel subsidy last year.
“Our leadership successfully lobbied for additional palliatives for our constituents across the country, which is being handled by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in line with extant Public Procurement Laws.
“As it is customary during this season, Honourable Members, in their respective constituencies, celebrate with their constituents in various ways, in individual capacities. These gestures should not be misconstrued as palliatives, and Honourable Members will continue to engage at the grassroots to clarify these issues in order not to cause dis-affection for colleagues in other constituencies.” Rotimi stated