The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for transparency and accountability in the management of the funds and resources donated by well-meaning individuals and organisations towards the fight against coronavirus. This was contained in a statement by Awwal Ibrahim Musa, its Executive Director
In addition to proper utilisation and distribution of such resources, CISLAC also welcomed the constitution of a Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 with specific responsibility to coordinate donations for efficient and impactful spending, “we are also surprised that selection and appointment into the Committee did not take cognisance of representatives from the media and other credible governmental and non-governmental organisations working on anti-corruption, transparency and accountability in governance and public financial management”.
The press statement further stated that:
“In times of global public emergency, proactive measures to ensure judicious utilisation and distribution of these funds are needed more than ever. Inclusion of media and other accountability entities in the Committee would compel transparency and accountability in the utilisation and dissemination of managed funds.
” At this critical junction, Nigeria cannot afford mismanagement and misappropriation of public and donated funds.
We on this note have no hesitation to state that diversion or misappropriation of the funds would be tantamount to total betrayal, unpatriotic, unsympathetic and selfishness in the management of the nation’s treasury which are punishable under relevant laws.”
CISLAC also said it will “monitor with keen interest response of various authorities to commitment of the Federal Government towards alleviating impacts of the newly pronounced lockdown in some states, we demand sincere effort to ensure relief materials and other financial and material assistance are deployed accordingly to citizens irrespective of their socio-economic status with holistic and transparent strategy to adequately appropriate relief package to citizens at the grassroots level”.