…says no more business as usual
By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Monday, officially commenced an investigative hearing into the management of over $4.6 billion in grants received by Nigeria from the Global Fund and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2021 and 2025 for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria, as well as for strengthening the nation’s health systems.
The hearing, which took place in Abuja, was declared open by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka.
In his opening address, the Chairman, House Committee on Infectious Diseases, Hon. Amobi Ogah, said the House was determined to uncover how the huge foreign health grants were utilized and to ensure that every dollar and kobo spent in the name of Nigerians is properly accounted for.
“We cannot continue to receive grants and aids that reduce us to mere spectators while donor countries indirectly control their management. Any grant or assistance given to us without allowing Nigeria to manage such funds is unacceptable. If they cannot give on our terms, let them keep their grants,” Ogah declared.
He noted that despite the billions of dollars and naira poured into combating infectious diseases, Nigeria continues to suffer a devastating burden of HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria, raising serious concerns about the impact of the funds received and their administration by implementing partners.
“It appears that while budgetary allocations and donor funds are mobilized for the response against these health challenges, there is no reprieve in sight as Nigerians are still ravaged daily by these diseases,” he lamented.
Hon. Ogah commended the House leadership for renaming and expanding the mandate of the Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM) to the House Committee on Infectious Diseases, noting that the change reflects a broader public health focus and stronger oversight mandate.
The lawmaker announced that the Committee will work closely with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to ensure full accountability from all principal recipients and implementing partners of donor funds.
“This is even more critical when you consider that some funding for terrorist activities has been traced to grants and donor funds,” Ogah warned.
He further revealed that the Committee will demand that all implementing partners and recipients of donor grants submit their implementation plans to the National Assembly for review and approval before any future disbursements are made.
“The era of spending Nigeria’s money without approval and accountability is over,” he asserted.
Ogah also disclosed that the House is amending the NACA Establishment Act to expand the agency’s mandate to cover all three major infectious diseases — HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria — under a new name: National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (NACATAM).
As the world prepares for the 8th Replenishment of the Global Fund, the Committee Chair said Nigeria must move away from dependency and inefficiency to domestically driven accountability and smarter use of available resources.
“It shall no longer be business as usual as we face dwindling donor support. We must maximize and efficiently utilize the resources at our disposal by cutting out all forms of duplication and wastage,” Ogah emphasized.
The hearing brought together key stakeholders, including the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Director-General of NACA, representatives of Global Fund, USAID, civil society organizations, and anti-graft agencies.
Hon. Ogah assured that the exercise was not a witch-hunt but a constitutional duty aimed at ensuring transparency and protecting the health of Nigerians.
“This exercise is an essential ingredient of democracy and should not be seen as a vendetta. Our goal is simple — that no Nigerian child dies before age five from HIV, Tuberculosis, or Malaria, and that we achieve elimination of infectious diseases by 2030,”he concluded.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Muhammad Ali Pate, called for a gradual end to Nigeria’s dependence on foreign aid in funding its response to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Pate said the country must take greater responsibility for financing its health priorities as donor funding declines after two decades of support.
He described the probe as a welcome step toward transparency, accountability and domestic ownership of health programmes.
He noted that while donor assistance has saved millions of lives through HIV, TB and malaria interventions, Nigeria’s health spending remains below 15% of the Abuja Declaration target, warning that underfunding threatens sustainability.
The Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen while declaring the session open said that the investigation reflects the parliament’s resolve to ensure transparency in health funding.
He said it would produce an evidence-based report on how the grants were received, utilized and their impact on public health, while strengthening accountability and governance in the sector.
The post Reps begin probe into $4.6bn global health grants appeared first on Vanguard News.
