Nigeria

COVID-19: Publish list of palliative beneficiaries, anti-corruption groups tell FG, others

Friday, April 24, 2020 at 9:28 AM by Jerrywright Ukwu

- Federal and state governments have been advised to publish the names of all beneficiaries of their palliatives

- The demand was made by a consortium of anti-corruption organisations in the country

- The organisations said the action will ensure transparency in the exercise

A consortium of anti-corruption organisations has called on federal and state governments to immediately publish the names of all beneficiaries of government palliatives to ensure transparency in the exercise.

The organisations under the Upright For Nigeria, Stand Against Corruption campaign also demanded inclusion of citizens and members of the civil society in the federal and state government task force committees on the implementation of the palliative programmes.

The consortium includes ActionAid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development and the Centre for Communication and Social Impact.

COVID-19: Publish list of palliative beneficiaries, anti-corruption groups tell FG — Distribution of palliatives to the needy has been going on across the country.
Source: Twitter

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Ene Obi, country director of ActionAid Nigeria, the consortium lead organisation, the group called for more action towards reaching Nigerians who have been hit by the COVID-19 lockdown.

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Further appreciating the President’s directive for an increase in the number of beneficiaries on the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) register from 2.5 million to 3.5 million, Ene said there is currently a disconnect and information imbalance between the governments and citizens on the Social Investment Programme (SIP) including the CCT and the COVID-19 emergency relief fund.

The consortium warned that the information imbalance between governments and citizens on the CCT which started in 2018 and other palliative measures specifically donated for COVID-19 may lead to corruption.

Ene said: “The CCT is an ongoing government initiative to take care of the poorest of the poor in the country.

“We must therefore not confuse the CCT with the COVID-19 palliative funds. The government must ensure that the two are separated and Nigerians know exactly what they are benefiting from.”

The consortium demanded that all governments must disclose to the citizens the value of money received for the COVID-19 donations and publish the list of beneficiaries of the palliative measures.

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Other recommendations include establishing a toll-free line for citizens to call and report any act of corruption regarding the palliative distribution and ensuring that any official found to be corrupt is appropriately sanctioned.

The group also demanded the inclusion of citizens’ group made up of notable members of communities like traditional or religious leaders and ward committees to be part of the committee and task force for implementation.

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Meanwhile, another anti-corruption group, Say No Campaign, has lamented that officials of government are flouting the rules of social distancing while distributing palliatives for the needy.

The group specifically made reference to the distribution of palliatives in Kwali area council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

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