•••Committee to meet with labour unions, marketers, youths, other stakeholders on the distribution model
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke , who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi on Wednesday inaugurated a committee on the distribution of the federal government’s palliatives in the state.
The Deputy Governor restating that the government is committed to making sure that distribution process is totally nonpartisan, transparent and credible as humanly possible.
Prince Adewusi refuted the claim of earmarked N5billion promised by the federal government has not been eyemarked, clarifying that Osun State had not received such funds, he described this as a baseless fabrication from the opposition party.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Hon. Kolapo Alimi while addressing Journalists disclosed that the state government has received the 3,000 bags of 50kg rice for the first batch but is yet to receive N5bn promised by the federal government.
“Yes, we have received all the 3,000 bags of 50kg rice from the federal government, but we have not received any amount from the N5bn it pledged to the state. I am not speaking for any state, but here in Osun, we are still expecting it and when we get it the whole world will know.
“We are still waiting for another consignment of 14,000 bags as well as 3,200MT of maize. Governor Ademola Adeleke is running an open administration, when we get it, we will definitely make public”, he said.
The committee met immediately after her inauguration to deliberate the best model for distributing the Rice palliatives, disclosed that it has decided to wait for the second batch before distributing the rice to the vulnerable members of the society.
Speaking on behalf of the committee,the President of the Osun Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Adeleke Olaniyi, said: “We thank His Excellency for founding us worthy and for having the trust in us to be members of this committee. We promise to be transparent, we are not going to let the governor and the state down. “We will put into consideration the people who are supposed to be given the palliatives: the deserving people.
Attendees at the meeting included leaders from groups such as the Osun State Trade Union Congress, Christian Association of Nigeria, Osun State Muslim Community and more. They are Chairman of the Osun State Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Bimbo Fasakin, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev’d John Adeleke, Very Rev’d Ajao Olayinka Faith Elijah, President of the Osun State Muslim Community Alhaji Mustapha Adeleke Olaniyi, the Iyaloja General of Osun State Chief (Mrs) Mary Aderonke Oyebode, Labour Union leader Comrade Lasun Akindele, representative of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Comrade Oyebade Dele, representative of the Egbe Olowo Parapo Mrs Hamzat Jelilat, Chairman of the Osun State Marketers Association Chief Ismail Olaiya, IPAC chairman Engr. Femi Adesuyi, Alhaji Abdulfatai Jagunmolu and NUJ Correspondent Chapel.
