The Senate has denied receiving palliatives for COVID-19 from the Federal Government or hoarding same.
The Spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Ajibola Basiru, in a statement by its Media Adviser, Remi Ibitola, said rather the senators contributed half of their salary to COVID-19 palliatives initiative.
He cautioned against “deliberate falsehood to paint federal lawmakers in bad light for whatever motive.
The statement said, “The attention of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and publicity has been drawn to a publication credited to the Director, Media and Publicity of the Muhammadu Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign Committee, Kailani Muhammad, alleging hoarding of palliatives meant for distribution to Nigerians by lawmakers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Senator Ajibola Basiru, who described the allegations as either wicked lies or deliberate misinformation, said lawmakers never received any COVID-19 palliatives from Mr President or the Federal Government, at all, for onward distribution to their constituents.
“While not speaking for the governors, I make bold to say that no Federal lawmaker and indeed, no Senator received any kobo from Mr President or any food stuff or any material for that matter, talk less of hoarding them.
“Rather at the Senate, we donated half of members’ salaries for the purpose of cushioning the effect of COVID 19.
“We, legislators, equally, played our part by purchasing and distributing palliatives to people at our different constituencies. So it is quite unfortunate for Kilani Mohammed or anyone to castigate us in the public and saying what is not true,” he said.
