Hon. Donald Ojogo, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ilaje/Ese-odo federal constituency, has expressed disappointment in the federal Ministry of Agriculture for its failure to provide clarifications on the alleged N100 million given to each National Assembly member as palliatives by the federal government.
Ojogo made these remarks during a national television interview on Monday, where he criticized the Ministry of Agriculture for not addressing the public and providing information on the procurement of palliatives for lawmakers in the National Assembly.
While acknowledging that the money had been appropriated, Ojogo defended the actions of lawmakers, including himself, who took the initiative to distribute items like rice and solar lights to their constituents without waiting for the slow procurement process to be completed.
He specifically pointed out the lack of clarification from the Ministry of Agriculture, which is responsible for procuring the palliatives. Ojogo questioned why the ministry had not come forward to explain its role in overseeing the process, providing details on the Bill of Quantity (BOQ) to contractors, and addressing the delays.
The lawmaker highlighted the challenges faced by representatives in ensuring timely delivery of palliatives to their constituents, especially during the festive season. Ojogo defended his decision to take the initiative and procure rice for his constituents, emphasizing the need to put smiles on their faces and address their immediate needs.
He criticized the negative perception surrounding the distribution of palliatives and emphasized that some lawmakers, with limited financial capacity, took calculated risks to ensure their constituents did not experience a low celebration level during the holidays.
Ojogo’s comments reflect the challenges and complexities involved in the distribution of government palliatives and the proactive measures taken by some lawmakers to meet the expectations of their constituents. The lack of transparency and communication from the Ministry of Agriculture adds to the concerns raised by the representative.
