The House of Representatives has given the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein, a 72-hour ultimatum to submit a detailed report on the use of the N100 billion COVID-19 intervention funds released between 2020 and 2022.
The House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Bamidele Salam, issued this ultimatum after the AGF failed to comply with the committee’s earlier request to submit the report by October 27, 2023.
The committee is investigating the expenditure incurred under the COVID-19 interventions, especially in the years 2020 through 2022.
The lawmakers are concerned about the lack of proper accountability for the funds allocated for COVID-19 intervention by the Federal Government and international donor agencies.
They suspect that significant funds allocated for COVID-19 palliatives and international donations may have been diverted and remain unaccounted for by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the government.
The AGF is expected to submit the report before the close of work on Friday, November 3, 2023. This ultimatum reflects the House’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds allocated for COVID-19 interventions.
The investigation is a response to concerns about the mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds and their potential impact on Nigeria’s economic ratings and opportunities.
The legislators aim to uncover any misappropriation or misuse of these funds to safeguard public resources.
Source: PUNCH