A coalition of Civil Society Organisations has faulted the management of COVID-19 funds which, according to it, opened opportunities for large scale corruption due to lack of transparency and accountability. The coalition also demanded that it should be involved in the monitoring of the implementation of the funds under the COVID-19 emergency support packages for improved transparency and accountability. The report, which is a product of a citizens-led survey conducted in Lagos and Ogun states by WARDC, The Innovation for change, BudgIT and TIDES, focused on COVID-19 funds and spending as well as data on the NCDC Covid-19 efforts. The report said, “In tracking COVID-19 funds and donations in Nigeria, available evidence suggests that apart from donations and grants from multilateral and bilateral agencies, the Federal Government of Nigeria created special funds and mobilise donations for emergency response to Coronavirus pandemic in the country, to which corporate entities and private individuals contributed. “This opens opportunities for corruption and lack of transparency and accountability.”Copyright PUNCH.

Source: Punch March 31, 2022 13:00 UTC