The leadership of the House of Representatives on Tuesday night unveiled plans to commence an investigative hearing on the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 Intervention Funds expended between 2020 and 2022.
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akin Rotimi gave the hint via a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents.
He said: “The House of Representatives is set to commence an investigative hearing on the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 Intervention Funds expended between 2020 and 2022.
“This series of hearings organised by the House Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is scheduled to be held between Wednesday 17th January, 2024 and Friday 26th January, 2024 at Meeting Room 446, Fourth Floor of the House of Representatives’ New Building in the National Assembly Complex.”
In a communication on the hearing, Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee highlighted 59 Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals of Government issued notices to appear before the Committee based on a schedule of appearance previously made public.
These MDAs grouped into eight include the Accountant-General of the Federation, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and the Rural Electrification Agency.
Others include the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, as well as a large number of Federal Medical Centres, Federal University Teaching Hospitals and Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospitals across the country.
“The National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Offices, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), a host of federal ministries and various security agencies such as the Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Fire Service make up the remaining institutions invited.
Rep. Salam noted that each MDA is to be represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Head of Finance, Head of Procurement and Officers that are conversant with the expenditures of the COVID-19 Intervention Funds.
“The Committee during its hearing observed with great disdain, the failure of some MDAs to honor its earlier publication and cause appearance before the Committee. The Committee hereby requests that all MDAs listed above cause appearance on their respective dates unfailingly. Failure to comply with this civil invitation may leave the Committee with no choice than to resolve the issues raised against your Office/Medical Institutions,” it stated.
It is noteworthy that the House of Representatives had in October 2023 resolved to investigate management of the funds following a motion sponsored by Rep. Zakaria Dauda Nyampa (PDP, Adamawa). Rep. Nyampa presented the motion titled ‘Investigation of alleged Mismanagement of COVID-19 Intervention Funds from 2020 to 2022.’ on the floor of the House.
In his presentation, the motion sponsor recalled that COVID-19 broke out as a major pandemic in 2019 affecting families, businesses, and economies of the nations of the world.
The Adamawa lawmaker thus noted that a report of the Auditor-General’ 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.
He argued that without proper accountability of funds allocated for COVID-19 intervention by the Federal Government and global donor agencies, it could potentially lead to negative economic ratings and loss of opportunities for Nigeria.
The Green Chamber in its resolution (HR/254/10/2023), consequently mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate the expenditure of funds appropriated or disbursed as COVID-19 intervention funds to Government agencies within the period and report back for further legislative action.
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