After four weeks of
shutdown of legislative activities, the House of Representatives, today resumed
plenary with a demand to the federal government to use the network of the
federal lawmakers in the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives.
It would be recalled
that the House of Representatives on the 24th of March adjourned plenary
following the outbreak of the Coronavirus to avoid the spread of the virus.
During the shutdown of the National Assembly, there were controversies over the
distribution of the palliatives.
The speaker, Femi
Gbajabiamila in his opening remarks, stated that, “many of our people have not
benefited from any of the implemented measures.”
Gbajabiamila called
on the federal government to make the palliatives inclusive and equitable.
“It is necessary
that we act to ensure that many of the people that need help, are reached. We
must also ensure that the distribution of interventions across the country is
inclusive and equitable.
“At times like this,
there is a tendency for the existing fault lines of a nation to become
dangerously exacerbated. The government must not be complicit, by acts of
omission or commission in any such aggravations, as such will only make it more
difficult to maintain the unity of purpose, that is essential to our nation’s
survival at this delicate time.
“Let me also at this
time call on the administration to take advantage of the unique insights of
federal legislators in targeting the distribution of some essential
palliatives. When federal government interventions do not reach those that
need, we are the first to receive complaints and have to explain to our
constituents the reasons why they do not qualify or why they have been left
out.”
He added that “Our
grassroots interactions provide knowledge and context that can be useful to
ensure that the hardest-hit communities receive help. We intend to bring these
unique perspectives in our ongoing work to codify the National Social
Investment Programmes (NSIP) into a Bill that will be considered by the House
at our next adjourned date. We will also, at that time, seek to pass a second
Economic Stimulus Bill to provide necessary relief to individuals and corporate
organizations in Nigeria. We expect that before then, the Senate will quickly
consider and pass the first Economic Stimulus.”
The House, which
will only be sitting on every Tuesday, is considering a bill for an act to
repeal the quarantine act 2004 and enact the control of infectious diseases
bill.
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