Minister admonishes NGOs against diversion of relief materials meant for needy

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, on Friday admonished non-governmental organisations against diversion of palliatives meant for vulnerable and needy women.

Tallen made the call while distributing palliatives items donated by the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in Abuja.

According to her, the ministry would monitor the disbursement of the food items to ensure they get to the needy and vulnerable women within the FCT.

“We appreciate women for their resilience, patience and hardwork during this difficult period for women all over the world.

” These palliatives can never be enough to go round, but I appeal to your conscience in the name of God to ensure that they reach the target group, which are the needy and vulnerable in the communities,” the minister said.

Ms Pepsie Adiukwu, Founder, Oge Pep Empowerment Initiative, an NGO, assured the government that the food items donated would reach the target groups.

Adiukwu, said that the organisation had been sharing palliative to vulnerable and needy persons in various communities since the enforcement of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Mrs Oby Elekwa, also representing an NGO, Divine Women of Purpose Association (DWOPA), said that the palliatives would be shared to the vulnerable persons already identified by the organisation.

Elekwa, however, called on the government to also send palliatives to states that were yet to record cases of COVID-19.

“Women in every state deserve to get palliative, irrespective of whether they had recorded COVID-19 pandemic or not.

“This is because the effect of the lockdown cuts across the nation, so there are vulnerable persons across the country who also need assistance,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 72 organisations were given bags of rice,packets of pasta, bags of sugar and bales of textile materials for distribution . (NAN)