ActionAid urges FG to track, monitor utilization of funds

THE ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has
called on the Federal Government
to track and monitor the utilization of resources committed to the COVID-19 response by setting up a clear accountability mechanism structure in partnership with Civil Society Organizations.
The Country Director, Ene Obi made this known in a press statement issued on Friday.
She noted that ActionAid Nigeria applauded some of the steps taken by the Presidential Task Force and other stakeholders including the media and first responders who are working tirelessly to ensure that the novel virus is exterminated from our shores.
She stated further that ActionAid Nigeria believes the COVID-19 response requires a wider and multi-dimensional
perspective compared to the approach currently adopted by the federal government.
“A huge amount of funding has been committed to the COVID-19 response by both the government and private sector, yet there is no proper accountability put in place, which is likely to breed corruption and defeat the effectiveness of government’s noble efforts.
“The idea to sustain the school feeding programme is commendable, however children are not in school and there is no clear workable strategy for its implementation. More so, there
are no clear information on how child education will be sustained nationally at this time.
“Access to testing and quality of service received by COVID-19 infected persons remains a point of concern with some citizens reportedly paying for testing while others have complained of neglect and favoritism of infected influential persons,” she noted.
On there part, Ene Obi stressed that
strategic funds have been released from AAN to their project partners in different states to cater for the protection of women during the period of the epidemic.
She stressed that AAN has set up a 9-
member Committee on COVID-19 finalizing a strategy and seeking innovative ways of working with relevant stakeholders during this period.
She therefore urged the federal government to ensure that states implement the lockdown order as a matter of urgency for
effectiveness with adequate notice to enable citizens prepare for the lockdown.
Her words, “Federal government should expenand the membership of COVID-19 response team to include CSOs for effective
coordination, accountability and transparency in the entire response
“Prioritize vulnerable women in its palliative measures to cushion their loss of income because when women are reached, their household benefits. Electricity, water, food should be available to households to reduce the burden of care work on women.
“They should also Include Gender Based Violence (GBV) care as part of essential services, update GBV
referral pathways and provide extra funding for GBV service provision.