The House of Representatives has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to recover funds allocated to Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

This resolution followed the presentation of a report by the House Committee on Public Accounts concerning the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 Intervention Funds between 2020 and 2022.

The committee?s findings were based on a motion that highlighted improper use of the funds by several MDAs.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Bamidele Salam, laid the report before the House on Thursday. This marked the second phase of the committee?s findings, following the submission of an initial report on June 11, 2024. The first report had exposed a series of financial irregularities, non-compliance with procurement laws, and violations of financial regulations by MDAs and private sector beneficiaries.

The report cited records from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, revealing inflows totalling N1.32 trillion. In his remarks, Salam emphasized that the committee?s investigation was carried out in collaboration with various MDAs.

Acting on the committee?s recommendations, the House mandated the EFCC and ICPC to submit a comprehensive account of the funds recovered from the MDAs to both the Public Accounts Committee and the House Committee on Finance. Additionally, the House instructed the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to provide evidence of the remittance or mop-up of unspent COVID-19 intervention funds from the MDAs.

In a stern warning, the House cautioned Chief Accounting Officers, Medical Directors, Directors of Finance and Accounts, and Bursars, along with their Tender Board Members, to desist from awarding contracts beyond their statutory limits. The House further stressed the need for adherence to procurement laws, including obtaining approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for future projects.

Following the presentation of the report, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas left the chambers, referred the report to the Committee of the Whole, and the House adopted the committee?s recommendations. (Saturday Independent)

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