The House of Representatives Committee on Public Account is set to probe the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds.
It gave the indication following a motion moved by Nyampa Zakari, a member from Adamawa State representing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during plenary on Tuesday, October 17.
According to Zakari, some ministries and organizations misused the COVID-19 intervention funds.
The lawmaker alleged that more than N183.9 billion was earmarked by the Federal Government in the budget for intervention in addition to the donations made by some international donors.
“The disruption of economic activity made it necessary to implement several programmes, laws, and interventions to help families, small enterprises, and public corporations and to strengthen their economies.
“To battle the COVID-19 pandemic on the populace, the Federal Government of Nigeria launched several initiatives, including financial provisions and money from international donor organizations.
“A sum of N83.9 billion was appropriated for the COVID-19 response in the 2020 Appropriation Act, as well as another sum of over N100 billion as intervention funds through the supplementary budget and international donor agencies,” Zakari said.
He stated that it was detailed in one of the Auditor General’s reports that the funds were mishandled, and lamented that this would discourage donor organizations from assisting the country when needed in the future.
“Auditor-General’s report and other sources reveal that significant funds for COVID-19 palliatives and international donations were diverted and unaccounted for by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.
“Lack of proper accountability of funds allocated for COVID-19 intervention by the federal government and global donor agencies could potentially lead to negative economic ratings and loss of opportunities for Nigeria,” Zakari said.
Similarly, an APC member from Borno state, Ahmed Jaha, stated that the probe was essential as the House was charged with receiving benefits from the COVID-19 intervention money.
“Imagine how many schools would have been built if each constituency received N500 million,” Jaha said.
The House has directed the committee to investigate how the COVID-19 intervention funds distributed to Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs, between 2020 and 2022 was applied.
It also directed that the report of its findings should be brought within four weeks for further legislative action.
The resolution was adopted by the House in a unanimous vote.
