Reps Reject Umahi’s Rice Donation Over ‘Stringent’ Distribution Conditions
Some members of the house of representatives have rejected bags of rice donated by David Umahi, minister of works, over what they described as “stringent conditions” attached to the distribution process.
According to TheCable, sources in the lower legislative chamber said lawmakers are dissatisfied with the procedure outlined in an internal memo circulated on how the rice would be collected.
In the memo, legislative aides were instructed to obtain special forms from the speaker’s office, submit photocopies of their official identity cards, and secure written authorisation from their principals before the rice would be released.
The memo also directed that the completed forms be forwarded to the special adviser on finance for processing, with collection scheduled at the Garki International Market, near the old Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) quarters.
According to the document, lawmakers were expected to begin collecting the rice from Monday, January 26, after completion and validation of the required documentation.
A lawmaker told TheCable that many of his colleagues found the process “cumbersome and undignified” for elected representatives over 125kg of rice.
Another source said some lawmakers have asked the minister to redirect the rice to vulnerable residents of Ebonyi State.
Lawmakers also questioned why the collection was routed through a private shop in a public market, instead of within the national assembly complex.
Umahi served as governor of Ebonyi State between 2015 and 2023. He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during his second term.
He was elected to the senate in the 2023 general election but later resigned after President Bola Tinubu appointed him minister of works.
It is common for lawmakers to receive gifts and welfare items from members of the executive arm, particularly during festive periods. Such gestures are often seen as goodwill efforts aimed at strengthening cooperation between both arms of government.
Similarly, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are known to provide logistical and financial support for lawmakers during oversight visits, especially when committees inspect projects and facilities nationwide.
Sources said the controversy surrounding Umahi’s donation centres mainly on the conditions attached to its distribution, rather than the donation itself.
