The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 have been summoned before the House of Representatives to give a breakdown of the funds allocated and donated to fight against the novel coronavirus.
The Minister of Health, Prof Osagie Ehanire, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, were all represented by permanent secretaries.
The National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu and the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu were also present.
Speaking to the press, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts and leader of the joint committee, Mr Wole Oke, said the essence of the engagement was to ensure that the COVID-19 funds were appropriately spent and rumours of misappropriation were dispelled.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of the SGF, Olusegun Adekunle, said a total sum of N22,163,130,411 had so far been released to the PTF’s operations account.
“Out of this, what has been utilised is N164,929,475 to cater for the management of the affairs of returnees (evacuees) from different parts of the world,” he said.
Adekunle also said the balance of the funds remains locked in the account opened by the Accountant-General of the Federation with the Central Bank of Nigeria.