NASS Directs Health Ministry To Halt Planned ₦10bn On COVID-19 Vaccine

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The National Assembly Joint Committee on Health has ordered the Ministry of Health to stop any plan to utilize the ₦10 billion released to it by the ministry of finance, to fund production of COVID-19 vaccines.

The committee disclosed this on Wednesday after it found the explanation of the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire on how the ₦10 billion will be utilised unsatisfactory.

Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe said the committee is dissatisfied with the explanation of the Minister and has directed that the money should not be spent until the Ministry can state clearly, what the money will be used for.

“This ₦10 billion is just given to you, with due respect, with what you have given to us, you don’t have a specific detailed plan for it. Our decision, for now, is that you can’t spend it (the money) until you provide us satisfactory answer. Once you provide us the details then we will invite all the necessary persons,” he said.

The Health Minister at the meeting said the money was part of an agreement between the Federal Government and a foreign partner, May and Baker plc for the production of bio vaccines.

He said the ministry is acting on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and the foreign partner for the production of the bio vaccines.

The Senate Committee, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation of the Health Minister insisting the ₦10 billion should not be spent until a detailed plan is made available.

Ehanire was at the meeting with other representatives including the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, and the Director-General of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency Faisal Shuaib.

Yinka Akanbi

Yinka is an aesthete and a cosmopolite.