Agric ministry denies delaying distribution of rice palliative to lawmakers

The federal ministry of agriculture and food security has denied reports that it is behind the delay in the distribution of rice palliative to lawmakers.

On January 2, there were reports that President Bola Tinubu had donated truckloads of rice to south-eastern states in a bid to cushion the effect of the petrol subsidy removal.

At the time, Okechukwu Ezea, senator representing Enugu north at the national assembly, said he was yet to receive bags of rice from the federal government, after Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo, flagged off a ceremony for the distribution of rice to the five south-east states.

In another report, Mansur Soro, member representing Bauchi’s Ganjuwa/Darazo in the house of representatives, said: “Nobody gave me rice to share. But I know of the federal ministry of agriculture and food security’s palliative programme, in which members were requested to advise on the type of palliative needed in their constituencies and states”.

“Some members recommended rice; some, fertilizers and others, depending on their people’s needs. So, the report that the president gave rice to all the 360 members and 109 senators is wrong and misleading. It was targeted at tarnishing the image of the National Assembly members,” he added.

In a statement on Tuesday, Joel  Oruche, director of information, said the ministry of agriculture is not distributing any palliative.

He said the programme currently run by the ministry, alongside the national assembly, concerns constituency projects budgeted for under the 2023 supplementary appropriation.

“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,” he said.

“It is common knowledge that funds for national assembly constituency projects are domiciled in the relevant ministry for purposes of implementation.

“The implementation process for the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation is ongoing.

“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.”

Last year, President Bola Tinubu signed the 2023 N2.17 trillion supplementary budget into law to address the urgent security and economic needs of the nation.

Some vital sections of the budget include N200 billion for seed and agricultural inputs and equipment, N18 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct off-season elections, N210bn for wage awards for civil servants, N605 billion for national security and defence, N300 billion for maintenance of bridges, especially the Eko bridge, and N400 billion for cash transfer to vulnerable households.