APC, PDP Senators Clash Over Social Intervention Fund

Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts clashed on Wednesday over the Federal Government’s social intervention programme.

The atmosphere became tensed when Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi raised a point of order alleging that the social intervention fund was used for political purpose.

She alleged that those given the fund were asked to fill forms alongside details of their permanent voters cards, noting that those without PVCs are not given.

She said it was apparent that the fund was used to influence voters as the 2019 elections approach.

But Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan, who stood up to counter her met stiff resistance from the PDP lawmakers with Dino Melaye and others raising their voices against the contribution.

It took several minutes before Lawan was allowed to speak, albeit with intermittent interruptions from the PDP senators.

At the end of the debate, senators resolved that the social intervention programme of the present administration and the SURE-P programme of the past administration should be probed.