House Committee Issues 72-Hour Ultimatum To Health Minister Over $300m Misuse

The Committee on Anti-Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in the Federal House of Representatives has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate, and the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, to appear before the House Panel regarding allegations of misappropriation of $300 million allocated for malaria eradication since 2021….READ ALSOHeeding The Call: Health Minister Urges New Foreign-Trained Doctors Not To ‘Japa’

The Committee has decided that if the Permanent Secretary fails to comply with the summons, she should be arrested, considering she has ignored three previous invitations. Additionally, they are summoned to address allegations of preventing indigenous manufacturers of insecticidal nets from participating in procurement contracts.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon Amobi Godwin Ogah, expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of the Permanent Secretary. He raised concerns about the Ministry’s expenditure of over $3 million on the procurement process for antimalarial commodities, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the malaria epidemic in Nigeria.

Furthermore, the Committee received a petition from Seasons Law Firm on behalf of Rosies Textile Mills Limited, accusing the Ministry of Health and the Permanent Secretary of denying indigenous manufacturers access to procurement contracts. Despite the National Assembly’s resolution prioritizing local content, the Ministry engaged UNOPS for procurement, costing over $3 million.

In light of these developments, the Committee aims to mediate and resolve the matter amicably to prevent litigation.