Publish weekly details of spending on COVID-19, SERAP tells Federal Government

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Federal Government to “publish weekly details of funds and other resources allocated and received from the private sector, as well as details of their use in combating the spread COVID-19.”

Insisting that government should also publish details of the planned use of such funds and resources, it asked the Federal Government to disclose information on the exact number of tests that have been carried out for high-ranking public officials and politicians.

It also sought publication of the number of such high-ranking public officials and politicians currently in self-isolation or quarantine, as well as the exact number of tests that have been carried out for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

In Freedom of Information (FoI) requests sent to Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, SERAP said, “We are concerned about the lack of transparency in the use of the funds and resources being mobilised to combat coronavirus, amid problems accessing NCDC’s website and reports that authorities are prioritising home testing of politicians, with some reportedly taking multiple tests.

“Politicians engaging in multiple tests for Coronavirus have slowed the number of tests for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.”

In the FoI requests dated March 27, 2020 and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “We are concerned that lack of transparency in the use of funds and resources to combat COVID-19 would lead to diversion and mismanagement of resources, avoidable deaths and damage public health in the country.

“We urge you to disclose the level of enforcement for home quarantine system for high-ranking public officials, politicians and the wealthy, and whether the Ministry of Health and NCDC are carrying out checks to ensure strict compliance.”

SERAP further argued that transparency and openness in the use of funds and operations of the Ministry of Health and NCDC would help to reduce the risk of corruption or opportunism, build trust and engage Nigerians in the fight against Coronavirus as well as safe lives.

“Transparency and accountability are important to implementing an effective response to COVID-19 and reducing the spread of the virus in the country.”

“Given the importance of good hygiene like hand washing to any response to COVID-19, SERAP would like you to disclose details of measures being put in place by the Ministry of Health, the NCDC and any support with the Ministry of Water Resources to provide vulnerable Nigerians with safe water, sanitation and hygienic conditions.”

“We are concerned that millions of Nigerians lack access to improved water source and to proper sanitation, thereby making them vulnerable to COVID-19 and other illnesses,” it added.