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Good Governance Initiative (GGI) has called for a deeper investigation into the management and procurement of donor-funded health programmes in Nigeria, urging the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to extend their reported joint probe beyond financial transactions to contractors and implementing agencies.
Coordinator of the group, Eugene Morka, in a statement yesterday, said investigators should scrutinise procurement and programme implementation, particularly activities involving the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP).
Morka said weaknesses in procurement and inadequate oversight could create opportunities for corruption in donor-funded health interventions.
“To truly protect critical health programmes, the investigation must thoroughly examine the integrity of procurement processes, contractor eligibility, compliance requirements and programme implementation,” he said.
According to him, investigators should establish whether contracts were transparently awarded, successful bidders met applicable regulatory requirements and contractors possessed valid government certificates when they submitted their bids.
GGI also sought greater scrutiny of international donor agencies’ oversight of local implementing entities, arguing that inadequate monitoring could undermine safeguards for funds intended for critical health interventions.
The group said its inquiries indicated that the Global Fund maintained a dedicated auditing department to mitigate procurement risks and that information on successful bidders could be obtained under the Freedom of Information framework.
It added that corporate information relating to bidders was transmitted to relevant regulatory authorities after bids were opened.
Morka, however, maintained that the existence of such safeguards should not preclude investigation of specific allegations where credible concerns had been raised.
“While these mechanisms provide useful safeguards, specific corruption allegations must still be independently examined wherever credible concerns exist,” he said.
GGI said its engagements with anti-corruption authorities indicated increased attention to procurement compliance, particularly in cases involving companies allegedly unable to produce valid government certificates or suspected of benefiting from political influence.
The group said past and current contractors should be verified and any company found to have violated procurement requirements subjected to appropriate legal action.
Describing the reported FBI-EFCC collaboration as timely, Morka said a joint investigation could help establish what happened to funds earmarked for healthcare interventions.
“The decision by the FBI and EFCC to work together is timely and reassuring,” he said.
He urged investigators to examine financial records, procurement documents, company registration details and banking transactions linked to the programmes.
“We expect the EFCC to follow the money wherever it leads. If there was diversion, inflated expenditure or fictitious activities, the law must take its course,” Morka said.
He, however, stressed that the investigation should be evidence-driven to avoid wrongly implicating innocent persons or shielding anyone found responsible.
GGI called on the FBI and EFCC to make their findings public at the conclusion of the investigation, including findings concerning compliance certificates issued to contractors and implementing agencies.
The group also demanded the recovery of any healthcare funds established to have been diverted and urged donor agencies to strengthen their oversight mechanisms to prevent future abuses.
