The House of Reps has ordered the Ministry of Trade and Investment to refund the sum of N75 billion COVID-19 funds.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives has ordered the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Investment to immediately refund the sum of N75 billion COVID-19 funds into the federation account.
The Committee chairman, Rep. Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) gave the directive on Thursday during an investigative hearing.
The panel is probing the “alleged utilisation and mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds from 2020 to 2022.
The Chairman, while addressing the press, noted that the Permanent Secretary refused to honour the House despite invitations sent to the Ministry by the Committee to appear and explain the expenditure of N75 billion COVID-19 intervention funds.
According to the Chairman, “We are using the relevant law of financial regulations, to order the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Trade and Investment and Industry to refund the N75 billion COVID-19 intervention funds hence he has refused to appear before this Committee to explain how the money was spent.
“As far as we are aware, the money has not been used”, the Chairman stated.
The under-listed government agencies are appearing before the PAC on “investigation of alleged utilisation and mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds from 2020 to 2022.
1. Rural Electrification Agency, Abuja
2. Federal Ministry of Health
3. Federal Ministry Finance, Budget and National Planning
4. Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
5. Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty, Alleviation
6. Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development
7. Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
