Lawmaker urges FG to invest $800m subsidy palliative in health, education

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A member of the House of Representatives for Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in Rivers State, Hon. Farah Dagogo, has urged the Federal Government to invest the World Bank $800 million grant for fuel subsidy removal in visible and critical sectors such as education and health.

He advised the government to jettison the plan to spend the funds on cash transfer to vulnerable families but rather invest it in sectors that would be beneficial to the majority of Nigerians as the transparency of the proposed cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians could not be guaranteed.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed during the week said the FG had secured the sum of $800 million from the World Bank, as part of its post-subsidy palliative plans that would be distributed to 10 million households, which according to her is equivalent of about 50 million Nigerians.

But in his Special Easter message, Dagogo faulted and dismissed some of the claims of the Minister, especially the assertion that the country already had a National Social Register for 10 million vulnerable households from which the $800 million would be distributed to.

According to the lawmaker, as Nigerians join the rest of the world to celebrate Easter, the underlying importance of the period which centres on sacrifices by Jesus Christ should be emulated by ensuring that the workability of the $800 million from the World Bank was adhered to and reflected with transparency and honesty.

“As Nigerians are sacrificing their fuel subsidy benefits, it should be for a general improvement in the educational and health sectors not some phantom list of names compilations which is already fraught with deceit,” the lawmaker stated.

He added; “Easter is a period when we Christians devote our time to reflect on the role of Jesus Christ in our lives and resolve to walk the path of moral regeneration. This period of grace is even more philosophical in view of the fact that it was preceded by the Lenten Season which, itself is a holy period for we Christians. It is then succinct that the Nigerian Government also take lessons and relates them to dealings with its citizens, especially with the first $800 million fuel subsidy removal palliative.

“I consider it disingenuous on the part of the Federal Government to say Nigeria has a Social Register for 10 million vulnerable households, which the FG translated to be 50 million Nigerians. Just as I am finding it difficult to wrap my brain around it, so also are the majority of Nigerians are bemused.

“At this juncture, Nigerians, particularly, its government, should continuously meditate on the central message and the purpose of Jesus Christ’s birth, death and resurrection which ultimately led to the liberation of mankind from sin, should be emulated by ensuring that the workability of the set aside $800 million from the World Bank is adhered to and reflected with transparency and honesty.

” At this propitious time, that we celebrate the death, resurrection and ascension into heaven of our Lord Jesus Christ, which ultimately liberated mankind from sins, I enjoin us all, including our government, to continuously meditate on the central message and the purpose of our Lord’s birth, death and resurrection by ruminating on the essence of life and the responsibility to look out for one another, especially as it relates to those holding such responsibilities in trust, and be our brother’s keepers.

“It is my fervent wish and prayer that this auspicious period will usher in a new dawn of renewed hope, growth, development, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.

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