The Ministry of Health & Social Welfare and the country’s national grant coordination platform (the Country Coordinating Mechanism (Nigeria)) have been instructed to ensure that all principal recipients and implementing partners submit full implementation plans for National Assembly approval before any further release of funds.
The Committee will collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to track fund flows and ensure accountability.
The House of Representatives has formally initiated a sweeping investigation into how Nigeria utilised more than US$4.6 billion in international aid for health between 2021 and 2025.
The funds under scrutiny include roughly US$1.8 billion from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and about US$2.8 billion from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during 2021-2025.
The probe is spearheaded by the House’s Committee on Infectious Diseases (formerly the HIV/AIDS, TB & Malaria Committee) chaired by Amobi Godwin Ogah.
The audit arrives amid data showing persistent high burdens of HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB in Nigeria — despite substantial donor funding.
What the House Has Directed
A proposed amendment to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Act aims to rename and expand the agency into the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (NACATAM) — thereby creating a unified national body for these diseases.
Why This Matters
The investigation signals a shift: Nigeria is asserting greater domestic oversight of donor-funded programmes. According to Chairman Ogah: “Any grant or assistance being given to us without us managing such grant is unacceptable.”
Despite heavy funding, the outcome remains disappointing: Nigeria accounts for a large share of global malaria deaths and TB cases.
The timing is critical. With the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund nearing, Nigeria moves to ensure funds are used with maximum impact, not duplication or wastage.
Comments from the Health Ministry
Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, welcomed the probe, saying it underscores a push for transparency and increased domestic ownership. He also noted Nigeria’s health spending falls below the 15 percent target set under the Abuja Declaration, warning that continued dependency on external aid is unsustainable.
What to Watch
The Committee must report its findings and recommendations within four weeks.
Implementing partners will now need to align with the National Assembly’s approval process before funds are disbursed — a significant shift in oversight protocols.
The evolution of NACA into NACATAM may signal more integrated disease-control architecture, which could impact how donor funds are channelled and audited.
