Publish list of palliatives beneficiaries, groups tell federal, state governments

A coalition of anti-corruption organisations under the aegis of Upright For Nigeria, Stand Against Corruption Campaign have charged the Federal and state governments to publish the full list of all beneficiaries of COVID-19 palliatives.

This, the groups said, would ensure transparency in the distribution of the relief materials meant to cushion the effects of government’s lockdown on citizens.

The coalition, which includes ActionAid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) also demanded the inclusion of citizens and members of the civil society in governments’ task force committees on the implementation of the emergency palliative programmes across the country.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, commended the Federal and state governments for their timely response to the needs of the citizens and urged more action towards reaching Nigerians who have been affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

On Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) register, which it increased from 2.5 million to 3.5 million, Ene said there was a disconnect and information disparity between the governments and citizens on the Social Investment Programme (SIP) including the CCT and the COVID-19 emergency relief fund.

The groups cautioned that the information disparity on the CCT, which started in 2018 and other palliative measures specifically donated for COVID-19 might lead to corruption.

They, therefore, demanded that governments should disclose the full amount of money received as donations and publish the full list of beneficiaries of the palliative measures, among others.