If you divert palliatives, your family will contract coronavirus, minister curse corrupt officials

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday placed a curse on any official diverting palliative materials, adding that any one of them in the act or habit are just inviting coronavirus to their homes.

Penpushing reports that, the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ramatu Aliyu, placed the curse during the inspection of palliative items for Kwali Area Council in Abuja,the nation capital.

“I beg you in the name of God, if you eat this food, you are indirectly inviting Coronavirus to your homes. It is not food for campaign and not for you to do charity for your family members. If you want to do charity, go to the market and buy your own materials for charity’.

The Minister also warned the officials handling the distribution of the palliative items to the vulnerable groups across its six area councils or risk severe sanctions, appealing to those in charge of the palliatives not to divert the items designed for the rural poor.

Penpushing further reports that, Aliyu urged relevant stakeholders to be transparent in the discharge of their responsibilities and explained that the palliative programme was community-based.

“Irrespective of tribe or religion, everyone that is representing his or her own group here must know that you are the eyes of your group. If you compromise, posterity will judge you. You must stand for your people and make sure that they are served.

“These palliatives are from the Federal Capital Territory Administration as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to be distributed to the poor to cushion the effect of sit-at-home.It is a community-based programme, we want the community to own it but you can support us by obeying the rules, better still by sitting at home.

“We want the real data of beneficiaries by marking the houses because we don’t want to work on estimated figures. Do it the same way we conduct our census,” Aliyu said.

Penpushing also reports that, the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, while receiving the items on behalf of the council, thanked the Minister for her diligence in the discharge of her duties and pledged to disburse the items equitably.