Niger Governor Warns Against Diversion Of Palliatives, Declares Holiday For Distribution

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has added N200 million to N5 billion loan from the federal government as palliatives, making it N5.2 billion to be distributed to 270 wards in the state even as he warned that any official who diverts the palliatives would go to jail.

He said at a news conference yesterday in Minna that the amount given was a loan on which the state and local governments would  pay back 52 percent and the federal government 48 percent.

He said all former and serving top government officials would be involved in the distribution to the wards and each ward would get N10 million except in Minna and Suleja where each ward would get N20 million.

The governor said; “All former presidents, vice presidents, former governors and their deputies, SSGs,  former members of the national and state assemblies, traditional rulers, pensioners and members of all political parties are automatic members of the standing committees.

He also said  a three-day public holiday for the distribution of palliatives to all 25 five local government councils in the state would commence on Wednesday.

The governor directed all political appointees, permanent secretaries and  local government council chairmen who are members of standing committees to return to their wards for distribution of the palliatives.

He said they had already received N2 billion with five trucks of rice while 40,000 bags of maize were being awaited in addition to ethe N2 billion from the federal government.