COVID-19: REPS COMMENCES INVESTIGATIVE HEARING ON ALLEGED MISMANAGEMENT OF INTERVENTION FUNDS
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.
In a statement by the spokesman of the House of Representatives notes that the series of hearings is organised by the House Public Accounts Committee.
According to the statement the Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts Committee Bamidele Salam, highlighted fifty-nine, (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 (8) 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 Airforce, Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Fire Service make up the remaining institutions invited.
The House notes 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 House of Representatives had in October 2023 resolved to investigate management of the funds following a motion sponsored by a member Zakaria Dauda Nyampa from Adamawa State titled *“Investigation of Alleged Mismanagement of COVID-19 Intervention Funds from 2020 to 2022.”*
In his presentation, the Adamawa State Federal Lawmaker recalled that COVID-19 broke out as a major pandemic in 2019 affecting families, businesses, and economies of the nations of the world.
The lawmaker noted that a report of the Auditor-General’ and other sources revealed that significant funds for COVID-19 palliatives and international donations were diverted and unaccounted for by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.
The Green Chamber in its resolution 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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