Reps Order Ministries To Return N85bn COVID-19 Funds

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments has been directed by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee to refund N75bn allocated to it as COVID-19 intervention funds.

This was sequel to a motion moved by Bassey Akiba, a member of the Labour Party from Cross River State, following the non-appearance of officials of the ministry at its investigative hearing on Thursday.

The committee had invited 59 Ministries, Departments and Agencies to appear before it for the commencement of an investigative hearing on the alleged mismanagement of the funds meant to tackle the global health pandemic known as coronavirus.

The sitting was originally slated for Wednesday, January 17, but the House shifted it to Thursday to commiserate with the people of Oyo State over the explosion that rocked the state capital, Ibadan on Tuesday.

Akiba moved the motion to compel the ministry to refund the monies appropriated to it at the commencement of the sitting at the National Assembly.

The committee adopted the motion after it was seconded and directed that the ministry refund the said funds to the coffers of the Federal Government.

In his earlier remark, the Chairman of the Committee, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun State) lamented that despite the series of invitations extended to the Ministry, its officials failed to show up

Salam said, “The Federal Ministry of Trade, Industries and Investments got the sum of N75bn as COVID-19 Intervention funds. The Public Account Committee has sent invitations to the Ministry of Trade Industries and Investments three times, and none of the invitations was honoured.

“The Federal Ministry of Trade was to make their appearance yesterday (Wednesday). That was the last opportunity given to them and there was no such appearance. N75bn Naira was appropriated to them.

“Former Permanent Secretary and the current Permanent Secretary are affected by this motion to refund the sum of N75bn back to the Federal Government as COVID-19 intervention funds which as far as we are concerned, has not been expended.”

Similarly, the committee mandated the Federal Ministry of Health to return N10bn meant for the production of COVID-19 vaccines but which was not spent, back to the Federal Government.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachallom who was present, informed the Committee that the funds were domiciled with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

The committee however directed that the money should be returned, stressing that the Ministry may choose to reapply to the National Assembly for the money if it is still needed.

In a related development, the Committee also directed the Director General of the Rural Electrification Agency, Salihijo Ahmed to submit documents detailing the utilisation of the agency’s COVID-19 Intervention funds.

The DG appeared before the Committee at the investigative hearing and requested more time to submit relevant documents.

The Committee told the agency to submit the documents on Friday before the close of work and reappear on Monday at 10 am