THE UNPRECEDENTED HUMANITARIAN GESTURE OF HON. FRANCIS OTTAH

A short Op-ed by: Jacup Ochulayi 

for: InfoTimes blog

29th Dec 2019 

If government is truly about the welfare of the people, then Hon (Dr). Francis Ottah has done something noble and unprecedented in the history of Enone geopolitical legislative governance and representation, through a non-partisan selection of over 600 six hundred of the poorest orphans and widows from his constituency, Ado, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo federal constituency of Benue state, to benefit from his accumulated 10 million naira of statutory salary which he had promised to relinquish to be made available to orphans and widows from his constituency, a promise he made during his inauguration into the house of representatives on June the 11th 2019 and went further to match words with action by setting up an eleven man committee to oversee the disbursement.

 Hon Francis Ottah is by portfolio the chairman house of representative committee on drugs and narcotics as well as his membership of other critical and tasking committees in the green chamber, including house committee on Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, committee on Nigerian Navy, FRSC, FCT area council and ancillary matters, committee on civil society and development partners. 

Unarguably, one of the most obvious socioeconomic inequality that exist amongst Nigerian society and has turned a subject of several conversations and debates over the years, is the huge income gap between the political class and other sections and demographics of Nigerian income earners, particularly the Jumbo salaries and allowances been paid to National assembly members and other government officials both elected and appointed, even as juicy and attractive as such salaries may be, this distinguished Honorable Member in his humanitarian benevolence, has acted in an unprecedented manner to donate his accumulated four years salary for the welfare of the needy, particularly the poorest orphans and widows in his federal constituency, this followed closely the massive distribution of high yield vitamin A cassava sterm to farmers from his constituency in the last planting season, in a bid to enhance food productivity and bumper harvest.

 The first batch of this empowerment program is targeted at over 600 beneficiaries, according to a release from his media office by his Special assistant on media Mr Samson Otokpa, this and several other laudable millstones that the law maker has attained so far in his short time in office representing the good people of Ado, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo federal constituency of Benue state, one of the largest federal constituencies in the house of representative. 

Hon. (Dr). Francis Ottah Agbo

 Hon Francis Ottah widely known as the feedback law maker and also known by his self-coined political mantra the liberator, he is also known for his humanitarian deeds, accessibility, vocals and a radical approach to problem solving, also with a rich knowledge and experience in public service.

 The impact of this monetary empowerment on the economic survival and sustainability of the beneficiaries will be far reaching and cannot be overemphasized, to the effect that it is capable of sustaining some of them in petty trading and farming for family consumption and subsistence, there is also the feeling of sense of belonging in governance and reaping the dividends of democracy among others.

 As chairman house committee on drugs and narcotics, on the floor of the house, Hon. Ottah had in recent times vigorously drown the federal government's attention to how understaffed and poorly funded the NDLEA has been operating, this has recently re-energized and strengthened the governments commitment towards achieving the ongoing recruitment into the agency. This distinguished Honorable member is changing the tied with his open door policy and feedback mechanism of governance. 

The event is scheduled to hold on 30th December 2019 in Okpoga the Okpokwu local government secretariate with His Excellency Governor Samuel Ortom as Chief Host, Sen. David Mark as Father of the Day, Sen. Abba Moro as Chairman of the Occasion and PDP Chairman for Benue State, Hon. John Ngbede as Chief Special Guest of Honour as well as other stakeholders and traditional rulers as guests.

End of part one!

This piece is an opinion of the writer and not the views of this blog.