The federal government (FG) spent N57.8 billion on the procurement of rice for distribution to senatorial districts and federal constituencies by senators and House of Representatives members.

Under the Christmas/End of Year Palliative Programme, trailer loads of rice worth N100 million were expected to be distributed by each of the 360 representatives.

Each of the 109 senators was expected to distribute rice worth N200 million.

However, many of the legislators are yet to receive the delivery of the rice.

Few legislators who have distributed them inadvertently opened the floodgates of criticisms against those yet to distribute.

Last year, the federal government also gave N2 billion to each of the 36 governors for palliatives in their respective states.