Nigeria’s House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) to submit all Global Fund grant implementation plans to the National Assembly for approval before any funds are released.
The directive followed an investigative hearing by the House Committee on Infectious Diseases, chaired by Hon. Amobi Ogah, which is probing the management of more than $4.6 billion in grants received from the Global Fund and USAID between 2021 and 2025 to combat HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Hon. Ogah said the Committee would collaborate with the EFCC and ICPC to ensure full accountability for every disbursed fund, stressing that the era of unapproved or unaccountable spending must end.
“Nigeria must assert ownership over donor-funded programmes. Any grant that excludes domestic participation or accountability is no longer acceptable,” he stated.
Declaring the session open, Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka, said the investigation reflects Parliament’s resolve to promote transparency and evidence-based oversight in health financing.
Health Minister, Ali Pate, welcomed the probe, saying it would strengthen transparency and domestic ownership, while warning that Nigeria’s dependence on external funding is unsustainable.
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