The House of Representatives on Wednesday gave the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein, a 72-hour ultimatum to provide a comprehensive report on the utilization of the N100 billion COVID-19 intervention funds approved and disbursed by the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari to various ministries, departments, and agencies between 2020 and 2022.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Salam, expressed disappointment at the AGF’s failure to comply with the committee’s resolution to submit the report by October 27, 2023.
The committee was tasked with investigating the “expenditure incurred under the COVID-19 interventions, especially in 2020 up to 2022.”
Salam stated, “A letter was written to the Accountant General to provide the committee with details of all releases in accordance with the Appropriation Act and other interventions funded by releases from the Central Bank of Nigeria to different Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the government. That letter, I was duly informed, stipulated that the submission was expected on or before October 27, 2023. As we speak, that submission has not been received from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.”
The House resolved to issue the ultimatum following the adoption of a motion on the ‘Alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds from 2020 to 2022.’
Hon. Nyampa Zakari led the debate on the motion, emphasizing the role of lawmakers in unveiling corruption in the handling of public funds.
He expressed concern about the loss of lives, jobs, and economic opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both globally and in Nigeria.
Zakari also cited the Auditor-General’s report and other sources revealing that significant COVID-19 palliative funds and international donations had been diverted and were unaccounted for by various government bodies.
