The ministry of foreign affairs has said that out of its budget of N500 million in the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 budget about N250 million was released to it.
The permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr. Mustapha Sulieman who revealed this when he appeared before the House of Representatives committee on public accounts yesterday that out of that amount N164 million was spent on the evacuation of Nigerians from abroad.
He refuted reports that Nigerians evacuated from abroad were made to pay for their accommodation.
However, he said what they were made to pay was their flight tickets, while the government took care of their accommodation.
He said even though there was an earlier circular from the Nigerian Mission requesting those to be evacuated to pay for their accommodation, the circular was later withdrawn while the government made efforts to pay to the accommodation.
Also yesterday, the national coordinator of PTF COVID-19, Dr. Dr. Sani Aliyu said a total budget of N35 billion was approved for the fight against COVID-19.
Out of the amount, he said N22 billion had been released and currently in the custody of the accountant general of the federation.
He said the PTF was waiting for all the agencies involved in the Covid-19 fight to bring their procurement plans which will be approved by the PTF before the accountant general authorised to any payment.
Aliyu he said the PTF is only a sign off agency.
“Apart from providing leadership, the PTF only cross-checks submissions from the MDAs and gives directives to the accountant general to effect payment” he added.
