The House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis has given the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Pate, and the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, 72 hours to appear before them regarding claims of misusing $300m intended for addressing malaria since 2021.
The committee has threatened to have the permanent secretary, Kachallom Daju, arrested if she does not attend the summons, as she has failed to appear despite being invited three times.
The duo are also required to respond to allegations of preventing local manufacturers of insecticidal nets from participating in the contract for procuring the items and other related products.
Amobi Ogah, representing Isuikwato/Umuneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State, and the Chairman of the Committee, expressed his members' dissatisfaction with the Permanent Secretary's absence as he read the committee's resolutions at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Nigeria borrowed $100m from the Islamic Bank in 2021, as approved by the National Assembly.
Out of the $100m, $10m was granted, and an additional $200m was borrowed from the World Bank in the same year for the Impact Project (Malaria Financing Agreement), totaling $300m.
The National Assembly's decision is to prioritize local content to support local manufacturers, but the ministry went ahead with a procurement process by the United Nations Office for Project Services at a cost exceeding $3m for the purchase of anti-malaria commodities.
Ogah described malaria as an epidemic in Nigeria and expressed the government's continuous efforts to assist the people, while also acknowledging the issue of civil servants causing problems. He highlighted the money's availability since 2021 and the committee's repeated invitations to the Permanent Secretary to provide an explanation.
He further questioned the use and whereabouts of the money, emphasizing the need for a straightforward explanation. Ogah emphasized the elected representatives' commitment to advocating for the people and addressing the malaria epidemic by 2030.
The National Assembly will no longer tolerate civil servants taking advantage of parliament. The representatives are prepared to exercise their constitutional right to have the Permanent Secretary arrested if she refuses to comply with the summons.
The committee had recently received a petition from Seasons Law Firm representing Rosies Textile Mills Limited, accusing the Ministry of Health and the Permanent Secretary of denying local manufacturers of insecticidal nets the opportunity to participate in the procurement contract for insecticidal nets and related products.
Ogah requested the parliament's involvement in solving the problem.
“It is obvious that the National Assembly needs to get involved in this issue. We will step in to prevent this matter from going to court. We will facilitate discussions and bring the parties to a meeting in order to resolve the matter peacefully,” he promised.
