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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government has welcomed the recent actions taken by the Department of State Services (DSS) in the arrest of several officials from the State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA).
Daily Sun gathered that the officials were alleged to be part of a nationwide syndicate involved in diverting relief materials intended for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and flood victims in the state, materials donated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
He said Governor Abdullahi Sule has consistently emphasised the importance of upholding moral values and accountability among government officials entrusted with public resources.
Governor Sule expressed his disappointment in a press release signed by his Senior Special Assistant (Public Affairs), Peter Ahemba, on Tuesday, noting that at a time when both the Federal and State Governments are tirelessly working to alleviate the suffering of disaster victims, certain government officials would shamelessly collaborate with criminals to divert and profit from these essential relief materials.
Ahemba said since taking office on May 29, 2019, the administration of Engr. Abdullahi Sule has remained steadfast in its commitment to transparent and prudent resource management. “Accountability in governance has been a hallmark of the A.A. Sule administration, and it will not tolerate any form of indiscipline or criminality by government officials.
“In his capacity as Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule is fully supportive of the DSS’s efforts to comprehensively investigate the activities of this nefarious syndicate. The governor insists that those found guilty, regardless of their status, must face the full force of the law,” the statement noted.
He further added that the Nasarawa State Government was committed to collaborating with the DSS and the Judiciary to ensure that any Nasarawa citizen implicated in the scandal would be duly prosecuted, in order to deter other corrupt public officials.
The DSS has arrested some suspected to be staff of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) in Lafia modern market, over attempts to divert palliatives provided by the federal government to alleviate the hardship caused by the removal of petrol subsidy.
