The House of Representatives has made the decision to launch an inquiry into the allocation and use of funds provided to government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for COVID-19 relief efforts.
This decision was reached during the parliamentary session on Tuesday, following the presentation of a motion by Hon Nyampa Zakaria PDP-Adamawa). Zakari highlighted the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted lives, businesses, and economies on a global scale in 2019. The repercussions included the loss of lives, jobs, and economic opportunities for millions of households, not only in Nigeria but around the world.
Zakaria emphasized that the economic upheaval brought about by the pandemic necessitated the implementation of various programs, policies, and interventions aimed at revitalizing the economies of families, small businesses, and public institutions. He pointed out that the Nigerian government had taken various measures, including budgetary allocations and financial support from international donor agencies, to combat the pandemic’s effects on its citizens.
He also highlighted that an amount of ₦83.9 million was allocated in the 2020 Appropriation Act for the COVID-19 response, along with additional sums of over ₦100 billion provided as intervention funds through supplementary budgets and international donors. However, concerns had arisen regarding the lack of transparency and accountability in the allocation and utilization of these funds, as indicated by the Auditor-General’s report and other sources.
Hon Ahmed Jaha (APC-Borno) further emphasized the substantial size of these funds, suggesting that they could have been used to establish fully-equipped hospitals in each of the country’s 360 federal constituencies. He also raised questions about the alleged diversion of some of these funds for projects unrelated to public health and safety.
In response, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, directed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the expenditure of these funds. The PAC was tasked with delivering a report within four weeks, which would serve as the basis for further legislative actions.