The House of Representatives says the Federal Government gave members rice to be distributed to their constituencies as palliative and not N100 million as being peddled.
The House Committee on Media and Publicity Chairman, Rep. Akin Rotimi, said this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.
This is coming against the backdrop of a viral video of Rep. Dekeri Anamero saying President Bola Tinubu gave each member two rice trailers to distribute to their constituents.
Anamero, a member representing Etsako Federal Constituency, was reported to have said in a viral video that Tinubu gave each of them two trailers of rice.
According to him, the rice is to be shared with their various constituencies across board, adding that at least each member got two trailers.
Rotimi, however, said that the Speaker of the House of Reps lobbied for it as additional palliatives for their constituents across the country.
He said this was handled by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in line with existing public procurement laws.
According to him, “the procurement process is at different stages, depending on the constituency, but to be clear, no legislator has been given any money for palliatives”.
He said that, as politicians, members might be visible during the distribution process and rightfully take credit for assisting the people.
He said that the 10th House of Representatives was the People’s House, and it would continue to engage and work to earn the trust of Nigerians as their elected representatives.