Nigerian govt issues framework for the management of COVID-19 funds

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) on Tuesday released a framework on how the COVID-19 funds should be administered.

The COVID-19 funds “are to be appropriated directly to participating MDA and spending units like Ministry of Health, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, etc rather than to an intermediary agency like the Presidential Task Force (PTF),” the framework stated.

Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that flout the guidelines for the management of the funds would be sanctioned, it added. In the same vein, top officials of such MDAs will be exposed and penalised.

“Participating MDAs are reminded that the COVID-19 Fund is a public fund in the truest sense of it.

“The public is invested in ensuring that the funds are utilised in the most transparent and prudent manner.

“For this reason, any participating MDA that contravenes this guideline may be sanctioned from continued participation in the programme.

Read also: Oil prices jump as lockdowns ease

“Also, the names of the MDA and its principal officers shall be made public as additional measure of transparency,” the OAGF statement read in part.

According to the statement, contributions to the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 stood at N25.8 billion as of 17^th April.

It went further to say that President Muhammadu Buhari had endorsed the opening of five COVID-19 donor accounts as part of the current TSA arrangement at Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, First Bank and Access Bank in addition to the main CACOVID Fund Account with the central bank.

The framework covers all public funds allocated and dedicated to the campaign against COVID-19 including the fiscal stimulus package.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had in the last week of March written the Nigerian government, seeking a weekly publication of spending details from COVID-19 funds.

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