Involve Assembly in the sharing of FG palliatives – Lawmaker urges Ogun govt

Hon. Lukmon Atobatele

The Ogun State Government has been advised not to politicise or monopolise the distribution of grains and money donated to the State by the Federal Government, by involving the State Assembly in the sharing of the palliatives meant to mitigate the effect of the subsidy removal policy. 

The Deputy Minority Leader of the 10th Ogun State Assembly, Hon. Lukmon Atobatele stated this in Abeokuta, while reacting to the confirmation by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi that the State has received the Federal Government palliatives. 

Hon. Atobatele, who commended the State Government for acknowledging the consignments said “the members of the Assembly are closer to the people in their constituents, thus the need to carry them along”.

He said, ” though the SSG assured that the distribution would have nothing to do with political or religious affiliations, it becomes political, if only the ruling party is made to decide solely, how to distribute the palliatives “.

The Deputy Minority Leader said “the Assembly should be involved in the distribution to ensure it gets directly to Ogun residents whom the palliatives are meant for and not members of the ruling party alone. 

Hon Atobatele, decried the present hardship the people are facing, saying “our people now find it hard to eat 3 square meals or meet basic needs”.

In his words, he said “this is a trying time and we must be committed and transparent to our people. This must not be turned a party affair. What happened during the COVID-19 period should not repeat itself. The names of committee members to decide the sharing of the palliatives must be in the open to know who and who are responsible”.