The House of Representatives has demanded a formal report on the N83 billion approved for the Presidential Task Force (FTP) on COVID-19 as disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, at the flag-off of an investigative hearing into the funds.
The Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Mr Wole Oke who issued the directive on probing of the N83billion approved for COVID-19, while addressing the PTF on C0VID-19 delegation led by a representative of its chairman, Mr Boss Mustpaha, also dwelled on the need to return a N20.9 billion unspent fund from the total of N21.163 billion released to the PTF, to the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
Mr Oke, who reiterated the resolve of the House to ensure effective accountability of funds accrued into the COVID-19 account also unveiled plans to investigate the utilization of a $125 million grant obtained by Federal Ministry of Health.
The representative of the PTF Chairman, Permanent Secretary (General Services), Mr Olusegun Adekunle explained that resources have been mobilized from donor partners but they are not donations that were handed over to the PTF.
According to him, the donor partners include the UN bodies that created the one basket fund and CACOVID is mobilizing resources to deliver tangible projects all over the country.
The Committee resolved to adjourn to 15th June, to continue the investigative hearing, just as it threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the Accountant General of the Federation if he fails to appear before it with relevant documents.
The Committee also directed the CBN Governor to provide relevant documents of all funds accrued into the PTF COVID-19 accounts.