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SPOTLIGHTS
- The APC alleges a lack of transparency from the Taraba State government
- The party demands to know how the N2 billion palliative loan was used
- Other states have reportedly briefed their citizens on palliative utilisation
From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has called on the state governor, Agbu Kefas, to be transparent about how the N2 billion palliative loan given to the 36 states of the federation, including Taraba, was utilised.
Alhaji Aliu Zubeiru, an APC chieftain, while addressing a press conference in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, on Sunday, accused the state government of not providing information on the federal government palliatives given to the state since 2023.
“The federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, had in August last year offered N5 billion to states. N2 billion was disbursed in cash, while the remaining money was to be disbursed in trucks of foodstuffs to cushion the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“From the best of our knowledge as party members in the state, the federal government came out then and announced that any state that was not interested in taking the loan should return the N2 billion earlier disbursed to it. We have not, at any time, heard that the Taraba State government opted out of the loan.
“We have not also heard from the state government how this money has been used. This is now close to a year after the N2 billion was disbursed. We, as citizens of the state, are demanding to know, first, did our state (Taraba) collect the money? If yes, how has it been utilised? Other states have since briefed their citizens on how their palliatives have been utilised, why is ours in Taraba different?
“The governor might have used the money reasonably, we are not accusing him of embezzling the N2 billion, but we want to know how it was used. The commissioner for information has the capacity to let the people of the state know how the loan, which is payable, was used. Moreover, that is her job.
“Except we hear otherwise, we are demanding accountability for the money as well as the food palliative items that were sent to the state from the federal government.”
When contacted, the Taraba State Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, Barr. Zeinab Usman Jalingo, asked journalists to let sleeping dogs lie.
“What is your concern over the N2 billion palliatives? Why can’t you let sleeping dogs lie? Well, I have received your request, and I will reply to you at the appropriate time,” the commissioner stated.
