Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Jummai Alhassan (Mama Taraba), has accused the Taraba State Government of seizing relief materials provided by the federal government for distribution to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.
She said this while addressing IDPs at the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) Jalingo yesterday.
Her words: “You may wish to note that Mr President had earlier directed all ministers in the six states of the North East to go back to their respective states and conduct the distribution exercise.
“By this directive, 10,000 metric tons totaling 12,000 bags of maize were allocated for distribution to IDPs in Taraba state.
“These items were delivered to Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for safe keeping with clear instructions to hand them over to the minister on arrival for distribution to IDPs.
“But to my surprise today, we were denied access to the materials by officials of the state government”.
Reacting, the Chief of Staff, Taraba Government House, Rabo Usman, said that the minister did not officially inform the state government of her visit.
“It was wrong of the minister to undermine the government and the authority of the governor of the state,” Usman told Daily Trust.
“Two ministers had undertaken official visits to the state before her and they were received by our officials because they gave advance notice of such visits”, he added.
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