The House of Representatives Committee on Public Account says the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment should refund N75 billion COVID-19 intervention fund to government coffers.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Bassey Akiba (LP-Cross River) at a public hearing on COVID-19 funds on Thursday in Abuja.

Moving the motion, Mr Akiba said that the committee had written to the ministry three times to appear and account for the funds, but they had failed to reply.

“The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment have been given the opportunity to appear and explain the usage and application of the sum of N75 billion and up and up till now, they have refused to appear. It, therefore, means that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment does not have any explanation as to how this money was used.

“On this basis, I move using the relevant section of the financial regulations, that this ministry be asked to refund the sum of N75 billion to the government,” he said.

In his ruling, the chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam (PDP-Osun), said that the Constitution, Standing Rules of the House, and other relevant laws backed the committee’s activities.

He explained that the motion affects all the permanent secretaries who have served in the ministry since 2019. The committee also resolved that the Federal Ministry of Health should refund N10 billion to government coffers.

The amount earmarked for COVID-19 vaccine production has yet to be utilised by the health ministry.

The committee gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency to submit documents to back its expenditure of over N12 billion in COVID-19 intervention funds.

The committee said the agency should also appear on Monday, January 22, to give a proper account of the expenses made. 

(NAN)