The House of Representatives Committee on Donor Agencies has begun an investigative session into allegations that government ministries, agencies and an undisclosed non-governmental organisations have diverted huge foreign donor funds meant to fight malaria, tuberculosis, Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) and tackle poverty in sundry areas.
The chairman of the Donor Agencies Committee, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, disclosed that the House was in possession of substantial evidence that an NGO diverted the fund to foreign exchange trade.
Eyiboh said: “There are some agencies and certain individuals who are diverting funds from donor agencies. Certain individuals are using the respective agencies that they have authority to take over this money. There are some cases where individuals abroad have contributed over $30billion into the Global Fund Basket for intervention in malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
“I can tell you that one of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that was supposed to be one of the drivers of the fund used it for forex trading and we have facts and figures, which are going to be part of our investigation. Everything is going to be made public. We will take everything to the public to see how laudable objectives are being diverted for private use”.
The lawmaker regretted that there had been cases where monies meant for several projects received from donors abroad ended up in individuals’ pockets.
“I have seen some cases where monies coming on the platform of assistance were diverted to private accounts and withdrawn. I have seen clear cases of contract solicitation by even the managers of such proceeds of assistance”.
The lawmaker announced that his committee would begin the probe in January next year and promised that the outcome of the probe would be made public.
“By January, we are starting our investigative hearing. The House has directed the Committee to investigate the issue of tracking these aid and assistance.”
The lawmaker also said that it was regrettable that President Goodluck Jonathan presented the budget estimates for 2012 a few days to the end of the last quarter of the year.
Speaking on the Appropriation Bill presented before a Joint session of the National Assembly, Eyiboh said: “The Medium-Term Revenue Framework specifies the time for presentation of budget. “The problem is the political will of government to carry out certain provisions. The question is: Are we conscious as a people of the growth and survival of this country?”
The lawmaker warned that until the country’s leaders were willing to strengthen its institutions and respect the laws of the federation, the country would continue to lag behind in various facets of life.