Uhuru Samuel Adaji Jalingo
A Non Governmental Organization, Taraba Concern Citizens (TCC) has urged Taraba state governor Agbu Kefas to investigate alleged diversion of federal government palliatives sent to the sixteen local government and two development areas of the state.
The coordinator of the organization Mr. Timothy Gayus and secretary Hamisu Salejo while speaking to journalists in Jalingo on Sunday, call on the governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas to probe the local government council chairmen who were handed the palliatives for onward distribution.
Our correspondent reports that there have been widespread allegations of diversion of palliative sent to Taraba State by the federal government to cushion the effects of hard times, comprising bags of Rice, Maize, Guenin Corn and Fertilisers.
The commodities were allegedly found being sold in major markets in the state, a development that prompted the call for immediate investigation into the division.
Gayus and Sirajo are demanding immediate action from the governor to probe the local government council chairmen who were handed the federal government palliatives for onward distribution to the locals.
“We demand to know why the palliatives meant to be distributed free to the masses have dominated all the major markets in the state without getting to the locals. who sold them to the marketers? the palliatives were given to the state to cushion the present hardship the people are passing through, not to be sold, the people are hungry but the local government council chairmen choose to sell the palliatives.
“The people behind the diversion of the palliatives must be exposed and made to face the wrath of the law. Gayus stated.”
When contacted, the state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Saviour Nokun confirmed that it was local government areas that first got the allocations, adding that if there was cases of diversion then it should be the council Chairmen.
He confirmed that because of widespread outcry of alleged diversion of the commodities, he personally visited the Jalingo main market and found the commodities in some market stores
The commissioner also express sadness over the development, stating that the government will do everything possible to unmask those behind the diversion.
National Trail checks at the ministry of humanitarian affairs gathered that Wukari, Sadauna, Jalingo and Gasol local government areas of the state were given 850 bags of Rice, Maize, Milet and Sugar, the rest of the local were allocated with 800 of the bags each.
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