The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has urged lawmakers across Nigeria to be accountable to the people as the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem distributes foodstuffs and other valuable items to his people during the Christmas celebration in the state.
The items were given by President Bola Tinubu to federal legislators for onward distribution as palliative to constituents during the yuletide.
In a statement signed by the Director of the Centre in Akwa Ibom Otuekong Franklyn Isong and Barr. Christopher Ekpo, respectively and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Saturday stated that it was salubrious that the lawmaker’s gesture to his constituents in his constituency came when other members of the National Assembly from the state denied that President Bola Tinubu never sent such largesse to the people.
The group promised to track the Presidential Rice donation to the people as it monitored the distribution of the palliative by Hon. Unyime Idem in his federal constituency.
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Isong noted that the exercise, which took place on Thursday, 18 January 2024 at the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Empowerment Centre, No. 3 Barracks Road, beside Divisional Police Station, Ukanafun Local Government Area, was peaceful and successful.
He explained that the rice were packed in bags and offloaded from three trailers and later distributed to constituents within the recognised wards across the federal constituency, including traditional rulers, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and other groups in the area.
He urged all the National Assembly members from the State to borrow a leaf from Unyime Idem by being transparent and accountable to their constituents.
He said it was true that President Tinubu Palliative Rice had been received by all the National Assembly members on behalf of their constituents, and warned the Lawmakers to distribute same to their people without further delay.
He threatened to mention those lawmakers from the state who failed to account for the presidential palliative to their people
“Very soon we will name and shame any National Assembly member who has not distributed the palliative rice to their constituents.
“We have reliable information to the effect that food palliatives worth
N57.8 billion had been approved for members of the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for onward distribution to their constituents and that same had been released and shared to all National Assembly members.” he said.
