FG reveals how over ₦30bn in 4 month was spent for COVID-19
FG has released the break down of the ₦36.3bn COVID-19 funds in response to SERAP.
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FG said that it spent ₦30,540,563,571.09 April and July to fight COVID-19, out of the ₦36.3 billion public funds and donations.
Daily Times gathered that Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability project, shared FG response on its twitter page.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, disclosed this in response to the Freedom of Information request dated 10 August 2020, adding that FG received a total of ₦36.3bn in COVID-19 fund donations from banks, NGO, Nigerians and that the ₦30.5bn spent, represented 84 per cent of the total amount.
In the letter to Idris, dated September 4, and jointly signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare and CODE Chief Executive, Hamzat Lawal, the NGOs noted that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 spent ₦22billion, while 36 states spent ₦7billion to support their COVID-19 initiatives.
“We also note that the Nigerian Air Force spent ₦877 million for the deployment of assets in support of COVID-19 operations; while the Nigeria Police spent ₦500million on personal protective equipment. ₦17,865.09 was paid as bank charges.
“However, we also note that the documents sent to us do not contain other significant details as indicated in our FoI request dated 10 August 2020, including details and breakdown of the number of Nigerians who directly or indirectly have benefited from the spending, and details on plans to spend the balance of ₦5.9billion in the COVID-19 Eradication Support Accounts.
“It is refreshing to note that 115 ordinary Nigerians donated between ₦1 and ₦100 to support the authorities’ efforts to fight COVID-19, despite the fact that it is the country’s poorest and most disadvantaged sectors of the population that continue to bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a huge lesson for public officials and politicians about the idea of public service to one’s country.
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“It also sends a powerful message about the need for politicians to see public office as an opportunity to serve and give something back to the country, and not a place to mismanage, steal or divert the people’s commonwealth into private pockets for personal benefits.
“We welcome your demonstrated commitment to transparency and accountability, and hope other public officials and institutions would emulate and learn from the good example you have shown by honouring and respecting FOI Act as a matter of routine and practice.”
“We would therefore be grateful to receive more specific details and additional information on the spending of ₦34.4bn between April and July, and details on plans to spend the balance of ₦5.9 billion in the COVID-19 Eradication Support Accounts.
“Of the ₦36.3bn public funds and donations received, ₦1.4bn came from Nigerians and companies through accounts at the First Bank; Access Bank; GTB, Zenith, and UBA, while ₦536m donations were made through the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The ₦536m donations comprise of ₦89m and ₦279m from the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.
“In addition, China General Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria donated ₦48m; the Petroleum Equalization Management Board gave ₦50m while the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board donated ₦70m.
