BudgIT, a foremost civic-tech organisation leading the advocacy for transparency and accountability in Nigeria, on Tuesday in Lagos, challenged the Federal Government to publish details of how it disbursed the N288bn out of the N500bn set aside by the Muhammadu Buhari administration on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic intervention programmes.
Recall that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had disclosed this in a statement from his office, when he chaired a meeting of the government’s Economic Sustainability Committee at the Presidential Villa, noting that the programme helped to save at least 2.1m jobs, including new ones created, while over 4000km of federal and rural roads are at least 30% completed since the commencement of the ESP.
While awaiting official government responses to requests for a breakdown of Covid-19 spending which also includes the $5.6bn received as donations, grants, and relief support, BudgIT also raised concerns about the lack of an audit report on the intervention programmes from the Private Sector Coalition Against the Coronavirus (CACOVID), almost six months after the group announced the appointment of an audit firm.
Unveiling a detailed research report on COVID-19 Fund management in Nigeria titled: “COVID-19 Fund: Introductory Report on Fiscal Support, Palliative Analysis & Institutional Response.” BudgIT regretted that as of the time of the report, comprehensive details of disbursed funds have not been published on the government’s Open Treasury platform, which is aimed at enhancing transparency and aiding the fight against corruption.
This, the group said in a statement by Iyanu Fatoba, Communications Associate, further establishes its concerns about the lack of a proper framework for COVID19 fund accountability in Nigeria, quoting Iyanuoluwa Bolarinwa, its Senior Programme Officer, as describing as discouraging the discovery “that not much has been done regarding COVID-19 fund accountability in Nigeria.”
Bolarinwa therefore expressed commitment “to partnering with agencies like the ICPC and others, to ensure a proper framework for probing COVID-19 response issues.”
The call for an effective framework for COVID-19 transparency and accountability, the group said in a statement, could not have happened at a better time, especially in an environment deeply rooted in a profiteering culture and aversion to openness in the use of public funds.
“Per our findings, the continuous mismanagement of palliative items and funds earmarked for the COVID-19 response has created a wider gap between the rich and the poor where the vulnerable and marginalised are denied access to the palliative items that rightfully belong to them,” it added.
Using six states of Niger, Lagos, Kano, Ogun, Enugu and Rivers- as case studies, BudgIT said its research further showed that many people vehemently disagreed with the government’s method of palliative distribution in their communities as they could not access any of the distributed items, especially to the vulnerable.
“Health emergencies are inevitable, and a country must never be caught unawares. An effective response must begin with adequate preparation and resource allocation to the health sector, after which a proper process for monitoring, transparency and accountability should be established,” said Gabriel Okeowo, CEO, BudgIT
While BudgIT and Nigerians await responses from the government on the concerns raised, the statement reiterated the call for improved investment in the nation’s health sector, calling for the timely release of audited statements on COVID-19 funds. This, it stressed, will institutionalise access to information and reduce misinformation and prioritise citizen inclusion in committees and decision making process.
Investdata News recalls also that on Monday, October 26, 2020, CACOVID had in a statement following the nationwide looting of warehouses of food items meant for distribution to the vulnerable poor in each state of the federation and Abuja, promised to provide a full delivery schedule and flag-off dates by each state.
A statement by Osita Nwanisobi, acting Director, Communications at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on behalf of the coalition also said its external auditors, KPMG Professional Services, is at the verge of completing the audit of all contributions from our donors, as well as a listing of all medical and food items procured with these funds.”
CACOVID promised to share the external audit reports of its spending, along with a full report of its activities, including delivery and planned flag-off dates of donations to Nigerians.
Investdata News also recalls that as of April 28, 2020, the coalition had pooled a total N27,160,109,011.94, the bulk of which came from Aliko Dangote, (N2bn); while N1bn each were donated by Abdul Samad Rabiu (BUA Group); Segun Agbaje (Guaranty Trust Bank); Tony Elumelu (United Bank for Africa Plc); Oba Otudeko (First Bank of Nigeria Limited); Jim Ovia (Zenith Bank Plc); Herbert Wigwe (Access Bank Plc); and Femi Otedola of Amperion Power Distribution.
Picture caption: Oluseun Onigbinde, Director, BudgIT
