Health Ministry can’t account for funds, donors suspend aid
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senators have blown the lead on how Health Ministry officials mismanaged more than N5.7 billion from donor agencies, an unsatisfactory report of which led to the donors suspending their aid to Nigeria for vaccination and immunisation of children.
The discovery was made by Senate Public Accounts Committee based on the 2016 report of the federal Auditor General currently under consideration.
Committee Chairman Matthew Urhogbide expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the Health Ministry Permanent Secretary and other officials to account for the money.
Stealing of public funds is common with lawmakers themselves and with officials of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as disclosed in several reports by the Auditor General and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The Health Ministry officials failed to honour four separate invitations the committee sent to them, again a common thing in MDAs.
The first letter, dated February 1, scheduled a meeting for 8 February, another for 16 March, and one for July.
One of the donor agencies is Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), an international non-government organisation (NGO) seeking to create equal access to new and under-used vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.
Urhoghide warned that the committee is left with no option than to issue warrant of arrest on the Ministry officials to appear before it and give account.
His words: “The Ministry of Health has consistently refused to come and give account before this committee. We have sent invitations to them to appear with no response from the Ministry, this is very unfortunate.
“First in 2015, by a donor named Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, GAVI, an international NGO specialising in bringing together public and private sectors with the objective of creating equal access to new and under-used vaccine for children living in the world’s poorest countries.
“The NGO, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, accused NPHCDA of mis-management of funds released by the organisation and invited my office to observe the appointment of an audit firm to carry out extended cash programme audit of GAVI funds released to NPHCDA from 2010 to 2015.
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Procurement Act violation
“Non-adherence to laid down procedures stipulated in Public Procurement Act, 2007 in the procurement of Goods, Services and Works valued at N4,987,958,621.00.
“Expenditures made by the NPHCDA between 1st January 2010 and 31st March 2015 amounted to N8,599,291,949.00 out of which N187,725,160.00 was not supported with relevant statutory and third party documents, such as payment vouchers, receipts, invoices, delivery notes, store receipt vouchers, contract completion certificates, etc,” Urhoghide added, per Vanguard.
“The sum of N18,804,865.00 was also reported to be ineligible expenditures as it comprised payments to suppliers who did not deliver the procured goods or services as per contract.
“Inadequately supported expenditure amounted to N619,999,383.00 …. This was mostly attributed to photocopied documents, inconsistencies in supporting documents, lack of contracts with suppliers and lack of evidence of delivery for procured goods.”