'Account For N500B COVID-19 Fund' - PDP Challenges Minister In Charge Of N-Power

As the Nigerian government keeps on with the N-Power program, Sadiya Farouq, the minister of humanitarian affairs, who is also in charge of the famed scheme has been challenged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to account for N500 billion COVID-19 funds.

Making this call in a statement on Sunday, the  Publicity Secretary of PDP Kola Ologbondiyan cleared that the COVID-19 palliative donations made by the private sector were different from the funds set aside by the Federal government.

READ ALSO: Tambuwal Says Minister In Charge Of N-Power 'Behind' Delay Of Distribution Of COVID-19 Palliatives In Sokoto

According to PDP, the minister was trying to use the recent loots that happened during the #ENDSARS protest to avoid accounting for the N500B set aside by the Federal government for COVID-19.  

PDP further held that the attempt by the minister to muddle-up issues and confuse Nigerians only validated allegations of stealing and diversion of funds levied against her.

“The PDP is appalled by the scandalous attempt by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, to create an impression that the CACOVID palliatives besieged in the aftermath of the EndSARS protest were the same federal government palliatives for which she is required to give account.

“Our party wants to inform the minister that such infantile antics cannot sway Nigerians, as the public is already aware that CACOVID palliatives came from donations from well-meaning individuals and organizations which is completely different from the N500 billion voted by the federal government, which has not been accounted for.

“If anything, this attempt by the minister to muddle-up issues and confuse Nigerians only goes to validate allegations of stealing and diversion of funds and palliatives provided by the Federal Government and placed under her purview.

“The embattled minister has not explained the reason for the obvious circumventing of statutory public finance report system and appropriate documentation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), leading to the alleged diversion of funds to private purses,” the statement by PDP read. 

It will be recalled that the aftermath of the #ENDSARS was saturated with news of CACOVID-19 palliatives looting from warehouses in different states.

Also, Farouq had on different occasions been accused of diverting relief materials and COVID-19 palliatives.