Kano State governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has urged local government chairmen in the state not to back out from the distribution of palliatives.
Tribune Online reports that Ganduje said this during the launch of the second phase distribution of palliatives to the needy and vulnerable in the state.
Ganduje promised to resolve disagreements between Kano State chapter of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON) and the Executive Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission, Bar. Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado.
He urged the LG chairmen to participate in the second phase distribution of COVID-19 palliatives to the poorest of the poor in the state.
Nigerian Tribune recalls that Bar. Muhuyi in a press statement vowed to deal with LG chairmen found to have diverted palliative materials during the first phase distribution.
Muhuyi made the statement after he got complaints against some of the chairmen, adding that some of them are already under investigation.
But the Kano ALGON chairman, Lamin Sani denied knowledge of any local government chairman who diverted palliative materials.
Sani said: “To our knowledge, no local government chairman diverted any COVID-19 palliative materials for his personal or political patronage.”
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However, Ganduje who spoke at the Coronation Hall, Government House on Thursday, said he already held meetings with the Fund Raising Committee chairman and the anti-corruption executive chairman, promising that things will soon be under control.
He said: “I call on our chairmen of Local Government Areas to go back to their right position and participate in the distribution of the palliatives. All other issues will be resolved.”
He commended the Fund Raising Committee for showing diligence, dedication and transparency in the discharge of their duties.
“I appreciate and thank the Fund Raising and Palliatives Committee for the transparency and honesty displayed in sharing the palliatives.
“I also appreciate and thank the District Heads and Imams who are the chairmen of the Palliative Committees at the Local Government levels.”
Ganduje regretted that COVID-19 has done great harm to the world, adding that “it has affected our religion, it has affected our economy, it has affected our social life, it has even affected our thinking.
“The lockdown has created a lot of social and economic problems for our people. So, it is important we identify the poorest of the poor and help them.
“We thank you for completing the first phase. Now, we are going into the second phase. We thank the Federal Government for providing food items. We thank those who contributed their donations to the Fund Raising Committee.”
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