A Member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Dr. Farah Dagogo, has called on the Federal Government to shelve its plans of transferring $800 million palliative as cash transfers to about 50 million Nigerians to cushion the effect of removing subsidy on fuel.
Dagogo, who represents Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, urged the government to invest the money in critical sectors of education and health that would be beneficial to the majority of the people.
The lawmaker said there was no way to measure the transparency of cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians.
Dagogo faulted and dismissed some of the claims of the Federal Government, especially, its assertion that the country already had a National Social Register for 10 million vulnerable households to facilitate the cash transfers.
He said as Nigerians join the rest of the world to celebrate Easter, the underlying importance of the period should be emulated by the government in ensuring that the $ 800 million from the World Bank was honestly and transparently used.
Dagogo said: “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.
“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. It is then succinct that the Nigerian Government also takes 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 they (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 bemused. 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 each other, 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.”