A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Farah Dagogo, has advised the federal government to invest the $800 million subsidy palliative in critical sectors such as healthcare and education.
Minister of finance, budget and national planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, had during the week said the federal government had secured $800 million from the World Bank as part of its post-subsidy palliative plans that would be distributed to 10 million households, which according to her is equivalent to about 50 million Nigerians.
But, Dagogo in an Easter message made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt stated that investing in the two sectors would be beneficial to majority of Nigerians, as the transparency of the proposed cash transfers to 50 million vulnerable Nigerians cannot be guaranteed.
He faulted some of the minister’s claims, especially the assertion that the country already has a National Social Register for 10 million vulnerable households where the $800 million would be distributed.
He said: “As Nigerians join the rest of the world to celebrate Easter, the underlying importance of the period which centers on sacrifices by Jesus Christ should be emulated by ensuring that the workability of the set aside $800 million from the World Bank is adhered to and reflected with transparency and honesty.
“As Nigerians are sacrificing their fuel subsidy benefits, it should be for a general improvement in the educational and health sectors not some phantom list of names compilations which is already fraught with deceit.
“Easter is a period when we Christians devote our time to reflect on the role of Jesus Christ in our lives and resolve to walk the path of moral regeneration. This period of grace is even more philosophical in view of the fact that it was preceded by the Lenten season which itself is a holy period for we Christians.
“It is then succinct that the Nigerian government also takes lessons and relate it to dealings with citizens, especially with the first $800 million fuel subsidy removal palliative.
“I consider it disingenuous on the part of the federal government to say Nigeria has a Social Register for 10 million vulnerable households, which they translated to be 50 million Nigerians. Just as I am finding it difficult wrapping my brain around it, so also are majority of Nigerians bemused.
“At this juncture, Nigerians, particularly, its government, should continuously meditate on the central message and the purpose of Jesus Christ’s birth, death and resurrection which ultimately led to the liberation of mankind from sin, should be emulated by ensuring that the workability of the set aside $800 million from the World Bank is adhered to and reflected with transparency and honesty.”
