So far, the federal government and sub-nationals have received a sum of over N200 billion from local and international donations in cash and in kind. Recently, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, also approved its largest COVID-19 emergency financing package of $3.4 billion Rapid Financing Instrument, RFI, for Nigeria. This financing package is primarily meant to support the health care sector and assist to cushion the effects of revenue decline on the economy. It has therefore become expedient to hold the government accountable on every penny dispensed for the COVID-19 response

“If these emergency donations are not properly tracked, monitored and accounted for, the funds can be misappropriated, embezzled and diverted into private coffers, without any tangible impact or benefit to the health sector, citizens and the economy as a whole”, says Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT’s principal lead.

“We hereby implore the government to ensure its commitment to open data and full transparency by making available, comprehensive and detailed breakdown of how funds are dispensed on health infrastructure and citizens’ welfare. We also enjoin members of the public and other CSOs to collaborate, support and join BudgIT in demanding accountability from both the federal government and the sub-nationals via the COVID-TRACKA platform,” a statement signed by Iyanu Fatoba, communications associate, BudgIT, and made available to Realnews on Thursday, May 14.