The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has revealed alleged several irregularities in the presentations made by certain health institutions across the country.
The Committee is tasked with investigating the alleged misappropriation of COVID-19 intervention funds by various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Under the leadership of Committee Chairman Bamidele Salam, representing Ede North/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in Osun State, the committee found that some of the alleged infractions could result in the accounting officers being sentenced to jail or losing their jobs.
As a result of these findings, the committee rejected the reports from the health institutions, considering them to be fabricated. It directed the institutions to reappear with relevant documents to substantiate their claims.
Among the health institutions involved in the investigation are the Federal Medical Centre in Azare, Bauchi State; the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Calabar, Cross River State; Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital in Yola (formerly known as Federal Medical Centre, Yola), Adamawa State; and the National Orthopedic Hospital in Dala-Kano, Kano State.
In the case of the Federal Medical Centre in Azare, the Medical Director presented a shortfall of N27 million, claiming that the amount was trapped in the Treasury Single Account (TSA). However, the committee rejected this explanation and urged the Medical Director to provide supporting documents or refund the N27 million promptly.
Chairman Bamidele highlighted that the TSA holds all accounts, making it difficult to determine the specific fund in question. He questioned why the funds were still in the institution’s account years after the COVID-19 interventions were implemented.
The committee also raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding contract time-lines, as well as a directive from the Bureau of Public Procurement for the Medical Director to refund N8.6 million to the Federal Government based on a market survey.
Another company, GMC International Limited, that failed to execute a contract with the medical facility will be invited to appear before the committee, while the hospital management must provide full details of the intervention project’s transaction.
Similarly, the Medical Director of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital and the Medical Director of the National Orthopedic Hospital were asked to furnish the committee with relevant documents regarding the management of allocated funds. The Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital in Yola is expected to make a fresh presentation on a later date.
Chairman Bamidele emphasized the seriousness of the infractions committed and cautioned all MDAs against employing delay tactics during the committee’s investigation. He reassured that the committee’s mandate, directed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, would proceed without hindrance.
