Budgit Foundation has tasked the Federal Government of Nigeria to release an audited report on the use of COVID funds.
Budgit in partnership with Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) and Civil Society Coalition on Audit in Nigeria (CSCAN), stressed on the need for accountability and transparency which allows citizens stay informed on the use of funds donated by various organizations.
In an opening remark in Abuja on Wednesday, during an audit coalition meeting under the project civic and institutional accountability in Nigeria, supported by Open society initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), the CEO of Budgit, Gabriel Okonkwo said, “With the latest news report by PUNCH, the Federal Government through the Health Minister received a total of N141.1bn from donors in seven categories.
“From the United Nations basket fund, it was highlighted that Nigeria received N22.6bn in donations; CACOVID donated N43.2bn, oil and gas industry, N21.4bn; development partners group on health, N42.9bn; and GAVI, N4.5bn.
“The Federal Government also noted that it received private donations to its accounts to the tune of N2.0bn while other donations worth N4.04bn were received, making a total of N141.1bn in 2020.”
He also said that “In December 2020, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 reported on the resources the country received from donors, private sector and the government’s contributions.”
These donations, he said, “included technical support, were largely used for the supply of consumables, tests, equipment, logistics management, case management, risk communication, and information management systems for the national response to COVID-19. “The contributions from the government also supported social support, health infrastructure, hazard allowance, and training of health workers.”
According to him, “accountability was further undermined by the lack of adequate information on the amount of money spent, and also on the actual impact that this is having on more disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, such as women and those living in poverty.”
Okonkwo added that “According to the International Budget Partnership (IBP) May 2021 report titled Managing COVID funds: The Accountability Gap, Nigeria was placed side by side with countries like South Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America on the levels of accountability in early COVID fiscal policy responses.
“Though the level of accountability was ranked at ‘SOME’ and not adequate, the reality on ground is that the audit report on COVID funds is yet to be made available to citizens.”
