The federal government yesterday ordered a full-scale investigation into how N2.67 billion school feeding fund found its way into private accounts.
Recall that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said on September that it discovered N2.67 billion payments made to some federal colleges for school feeding during the lockdown was paid into private accounts
Spokesman for the federal ministry of education, Mr. Ben Bem Goong, said in a statement that the minister of education, Mr. Adamu Adamu had queried principals of unity schools in the country and ordered an investigation into the matter.
“Following the report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, that the sum of N2.67 billion released to the 104 unity colleges during the COVID-19 lockdown for meal subsidies found its way into individual accounts, the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“In response to queries issued by the federal ministry of education, the principals explained that payments on meal subsidies to Unity Colleges on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, platform is designed to accommodate individual officers of those colleges who are officially recognised to receive such payments and disburse same to food vendors.
“This followed difficulties encountered by farmers, local food vendors, and market women who do not have tax identification numbers, PENCOM, and other requirements to access the payment platform.
“The principals also explained that payments made during the lockdown period had to do with debts owed food vendors even before COVID – 19, some of which are still pending, adding that these debts arose from irregular and inadequate budgetary allocations and releases over the years.
“The investigation is to establish the veracity of the claims to ensure that there is no diversion of public funds or misappropriation of same.
“To this end, the ministry in line with the minister’s directive is to collaborate effectively with officials of the ICPC to unearth the facts as well as find a lasting solution to the payment system for meal subsidies that will ensure accountability and transparency,” Gong stated.
