COVID-19 palliative: Only N2.4bn out of N32.4bn released to me, minister tells SenateMinister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, on Thursday told the Senate that only N2.4 billion was released to her ministry out of the N32.4 billion provision to mitigate the financial crisis faced by poor Nigerians during the COVID-19 lockdown. The minister made the revelation while fielding questions from the Senate Committee on Special Duties. Tribune Online checks revealed that the sum of N500 bilion was appropriated by the National Assembly for social intervention in the heat of the global pandemic. Hajia Umar Farouq however claimed that the N2.4 billion was spent on feeding of school pupils even while schools were closed down last year. She further claimed that direct monetary interventions were made available to vulnerable Nigerians across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT), Abuja.

Source: Nigerian Tribune April 29, 2021 19:33 UTC