By Henry
Following the unabated controversy surrounding the disbursement of N5000 (five thousand naira) cash transfer to Nigerians classified as poorest of the poor’ across all local governments in Oyo state, the state house of assembly has commenced a fact finding process to ascertain the true position of cash disbursement in the state.
Sunrisebulletin.com recalls that the federal government of Nigeria entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oyo state government under the National Social Safety Net Programme (NASSP) with the aim of ensuring adequate disbursement of N5000 cash to the acclaimed poorest of the poor members of the society as palliatives to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
From a confidential document sighted by Sunrisebulletin.com at the Oyo state house of assembly, it was indicated that Oyo state residents across the 33 local government areas have collected a total of N296 075 000 (two hundred and ninety six million and seventy five thousand) between January and April 2020.
According to the document, total amount disbursed and received so far between January and February 2020 is N135 075 000 (one hundred and thirty five million and seventy five thousand naira) while disbursed fund between March and April is N161 000 000 (one hundred and sixty one million naira).
An impeccable source at the Oyo state house of assembly who prefers to speak on condition of anonymity explained to sunrisebulletin.com that the state legislators are already setting machineries in motion to thoroughly investigate the FG Conditional Cash Transfer Programme by ordering for documented updates on the disbursement across the 33 local government areas.
Residents in the state have consistently debunked being beneficiaries of the cash transfer programme despite the huge amount that has reportedly been disbursed in the state already.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker, Oyo state house of assembly, Honourable Mohammed Abiodun Fadeyi, representing Ona-ara state constituency at the state assembly has said that members of his local government have not benefitted from the programme since its inception.
According to the source, it is still unclear if the state assembly will summon officials handling and supervising the programme or not but it is confirmed that the legislative arm will investigate the exercise and the veracity of the claims contained in the update report.
