By Onyekachi Eze
The Imo State House of Assembly is yet to get off the news from the negative angle as another scandal involving the lawmakers has cropped up again.
This time, they have been accused of allegedly getting #4m each as covid-19 palliative from the State government whereas the members are denying.
Even as the clamour for the payment of their two months allowances of the members of Imo State House of Assembly is still raging, another fresh issue over alleged provision of four million naira (#4m) to each of the lawmakers has sprung up.
The members, under the leadership of Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins were said to have collected a whooping sum of #4m each from the State government to contain the covid-19.
One social media crusader, names withheld while trying to draw a flank against the House members for asking for their allowances accused them of allegedly getting #4m each as Covid-19 palliative from the state government.
This is coming at a time when the legislators are reportedly unhappy with the governor, Hope Uzodinma and the Speaker for ignoring their plight, especially in the midst of the ailment.
Angered by the claims making the rounds in the social media over the said #4m package, some of the members have come up to clear the air on this matter.
One of them who spoke to our Assembly correspondent on this issue, Hon. Michael Onyemaechi Njoku described the news as one of the many lies against Imo lawmakers.
Hon. Njoku opined that due to the outbreak of the corona virus in the Assembly complex, they were asked to leave for self isolation, until there is normalcy.
According to him, they are still observing the break for over one month.
The member representing Ihitte/Uboma State constituency stated that no dime was given to any lawmaker.
Challenging whoever that is circulating the information to provide proof, Crown as fondly called disclosed that since May 2020 till the present month, they are yet to receive either their monthly salary or any money from the Uzodinma’s government.
This newspaper also gathered that if actually they collected such amount from the government, they wouldn’t be much disturbed about salaries or allowances.
There are strong indications that the monies may have entered into wrong hands, since there are claims from government quarters, as well as denial from the lawmakers.
More so, while the law making body in the State still push for their entitlements, they warned that no one should meddle or wrongly interpret affairs concerning the State legislature, adding that is an independent arm of government.
