The Taraba State House of Assembly says its Speaker, John Bonzena, never gave N1,000 each to constituents as a Christmas gift.
The rebuttal comes after reports that some women and youth from Zing Local Government Area of the state, were unsatisfied, after about 37 constituents were reportedly invited by the Speaker to his residence in Jalingo, the state capital, for a Christmas gift distribution.
The people who were said to have been selected from various council wards in Zing constituency, reportedly travelled to Jalingo expecting substantial support.
Instead, they alleged that the Speaker personally distributed only N1,000, causing outrage.
In a statement on Saturday, the Assembly clarified that the gesture was intended for children and young ladies around the Speaker’s residence in Jalingo, not for visiting constituents.
According to the statement, while the Speaker extended a Christmas invitation to constituents, the event was to be held in his village in Yakoko, Zing.
“For record, the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly did not share N1,000 with his constituents. The N1,000 Christmas gesture was for children and young ladies around his residence.
“Those who mistakenly came to Jalingo were informed by the Speaker’s aide to return to Yakoko, where the legislature had already moved for the event,” the statements said.