The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has begun investigation into allegations of practices in the management of the COVID-19 funds and palliatives.
The agency’s director of operations, Mr. Akeem Lawal, said this on Thursday during a virtual meeting of stakeholders.
Lawal said there were allegations of fraud by some participating public institutions in the release and distribution of grains from strategic food reserve to “financially exploit local governments.”
He said, the cases include alleged infractions in the procurement of COVID-19 palliatives and logistics and community enlightenment activities.
He said there was also an allegation of diversion of “COVID-19 logistics and contingency emergency fund into personal account.”
“In all cases of infraction, culprits will be investigated and prosecuted,” the director said.
He added that the ICPC was also monitoring the distribution of money and food under the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme and the Home School Feeding Programme.
Lawal stated that the commission’s intervention in the COVID-19 fund management was pursuant to its corruption prevention, enforcement and public sensitisation mandate.
He said the aim was to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of the funds as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The special adviser to the president on school feeding programme, Mr. Dotun Adebayo, during the web meeting, disclosed that the government was targeting 3,131,971 households in the Home School Feeding Programme.
He added that each household would get a food ration package worth N4, 200 on the presumption of an average of three children per household.
According to him, a package contains five kilogrammes each of rice and beans; 500 milligrammes of vegetable oil, 750 milligrammes of palm oil, 500 gramme of salt, 15 eggs and 140 grammes of tomato paste.
“We normally expend N1, 400 per child per 20 days when schools are open
“Fortunately, we had existing fund to cover 20-day circle in April for 35 states before schools were closed due to the COVId-19 lockdown,” he said.
The presidential aide said the government was leveraging the existing structure of the programme to deliver the food items to the beneficiaries.
