COVID-19: Make Spending Public, NGO Urges Govt
A Nongovernmental organization, Connected Development, CODE, has asked the government to make public, the amount that has so far been spent in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chief Executive Officer, Hamzat Lawal, who made the inquiry at the launch of its magazine, CODE, ” Rebuilding Trust in Institutions”, in Abuja on Monday, decried the refusal of government agencies to make public the amount spent so far in combating the coronavirus.
“it is sad to note that till date, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance have not told the Nigeria people how much has been spent. it is also important to know that the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Control have not shared data on who has benefited from government pallative and how much has been budgeted and released for them to spend on COVID 19”.
He charged the Nigerians to take responsibility and stop being indifferent to govt activities by holding them accountable.
Lawal, who is also the founder, “Follow The Money,” says holding government accountable has helped save 50 billion naira in 2019.
He revealed how tracking government spending has helped in the proper execution of community projects, and the reduction of poverty in the rural communities.
‘‘At the end of 2019 Follow The Money tracked over 1.2 Billion Naira that was budgeted in Sixty-Nine grassroots rural communities which we’ve seen an increase in health care infrastructure, a decline in number of out of school children, communities now have access to quality education. Our Follow The Money saved the govt 50 Billion Naira from the fact that follow the money team were ensuring that the govt MDAs use the resources judiciously, if we are able to mobilize citizens to hold govt to account, we will do away with spending that are frivolous in the country.’’
Hamzat Lawal commended President Buhari on the signing of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAMA 2020, into law. He said CAMA 2020 would help reduce corruption, fraud and criminality in the oil and gas sector.
President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (cama), on August 7, 2020. The new law is Nigeria’s most significant business legislation in three decades and it introduces new provisions that promote ease of doing business and reduces regulatory hurdles.
