The House of Representatives has unanimously resolved to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the allocation and utilization of funds disbursed to government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for COVID-19 intervention.
This crucial decision came following the adoption of a motion introduced by Representative Nyampa Zakari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Adamawa during a plenary session on Tuesday.
Representative Zakari, while presenting the motion, underscored the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in 2019.
He emphasized that the pandemic had far-reaching effects, affecting families, businesses, and economies on a global scale.
It resulted in the tragic loss of lives, widespread job losses, and the disruption of economic opportunities, impacting millions of households, both in Nigeria and worldwide.
The lawmaker pointed out that in response to the economic disruptions brought about by the pandemic, numerous programs, policies, and interventions were introduced to revitalize the economies of families, small businesses, and public corporations.
He stressed that the Nigerian government had implemented various measures, including budgetary provisions and funding from international donor agencies, to combat the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on its citizens.
Representative Zakari drew attention to the fact that significant funds, including N83.9 billion allocated in the 2020 Appropriation Act for COVID-19 response and over N100 billion as intervention funds through supplementary budgets and international donor agencies, were intended for COVID-19 palliatives.
However, reports from the Auditor-General and other sources indicated that substantial funds earmarked for COVID-19 interventions had been diverted and remained unaccounted for by different government agencies.
Concerns were raised about the potential negative economic implications and the loss of opportunities for Nigeria due to the lack of proper accountability for funds allocated for COVID-19 intervention by both the Federal Government and global donor agencies.
During the discussion, Representative Ahmed Jaha of the APC from Borno highlighted that the amount allocated for COVID-19 intervention could have been used to establish standard hospitals in all 360 federal constituencies in the country.
He also expressed concern that some of the funds had allegedly been utilized for projects unrelated to safeguarding public health, such as road construction.
In response to these concerns, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas mandated the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to carry out a thorough investigation into the expenditure of these funds and present their findings within four weeks for further legislative action.
This move represents a crucial step toward ensuring transparency and accountability in the utilization of funds designated for COVID-19 intervention.