The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives has directed the Ministry of Health to return to the federal government the N10 billion meant for the production of COVID-19 vaccines which was not utilised.
This followed a motion moved by Bassey Akiba (LP, Cross Rivers) after the non-appearance of officials of the ministry at its investigative hearing yesterday.
Akiba moved the motion to compel the ministry to refund the monies appropriated to it during the intervention of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The committee adopted the motion after it was seconded and directed that the ministry refunded the said funds to the federal government.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) noted that despite a series of invitations to the ministry, its officials have failed to respond or appear before the committee.
The directive followed the appearance and submission by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachallom, who informed the committee that the funds were domiciled in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
