The House of Representatives on Tuesday unveiled plans to investigate the over $1.8 billion grant and $2.8 billion received by Nigeria from the Global Fund and USAID from 2021 to 2025 for the response against HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, as well as for supporting resilient and sustainable systems for health.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Deputy Spokesman, Hon. Philip Agbese, who solicited the House’s intervention.
In his lead debate, Hon. Agbese observed that Nigeria has received an estimated $1.8 billion in grants from the Global Fund from 2021 to 2025 for the fight against HIV, TB, and Malaria, in addition to over $2.8 billion received from USAID to cover health threats such as HIV, malaria, polio, and tuberculosis between 2022 and 2024.
According to him, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, founded on 22 January 2002 as an independent, multilateral financing entity, was designed to raise significant resources and accelerate efforts to end the HIV, TB, and malaria epidemics globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
‘The House is aware that Nigeria also received over $6 billion in health assistance from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief from 2021 to 2025 to fight HIV/AIDS and build the capacity of health and community systems.
‘The House also notes that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is responsible for the utilisation of the grants from USAID, while the Country Coordinating Mechanism Nigeria is responsible for utilising and implementing the Global Fund grants in Nigeria.
‘The House is concerned that, with this huge investment in the nation’s response to HIV, TB, and Malaria, Nigeria still bears a great burden in all these public health threats.
‘In 2023, approximately 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurred among Nigerian children aged 0-14 years, while 51,000 AIDS-related deaths were recorded in the country, with Nigeria ranking third globally in HIV deaths, and also having the highest number of HIV cases in West and Central Africa.
‘In the area of TB, Nigeria ranks first in Africa and sixth in the world, accounting for 4.6% of the global TB burden, while Nigeria bears the highest malaria burden globally, accounting for an estimated 26.6% of global cases and 31% of malaria deaths.
‘The House is also aware that the UN Sustainable Development Goals have established a target of 2030 for all nations to ensure the elimination of HIV, TB, and Malaria in their countries, for which, if the status quo continues, Nigeria may likely not meet this target.
‘The House is also concerned that there has not been a coordinated and robust oversight of the implementers of these grants received by the country by the National Assembly.
‘The House is also aware that, pursuant to Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the National Assembly or its committees have inherent powers to summon or request documents from any government ministry, agency, parastatal, or non-governmental agency for the effective discharge of its mandate.
‘The House is worried that if something drastic is not done to reassess and re-evaluate the utilisation and implementation of these grants, with the 8th replenishment in view, Nigeria may continue to suffer huge burdens and continue to lose its population to these diseases, thereby failing in the elimination of HIV, TB, and Malaria by the year 2030.’
To this end, the House mandated its Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control to investigate the utilisation of the grants received by Nigeria from 2021 to 2025 for the fight against HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
In the same vein, the House mandated the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to provide the implementation plan and approvals granted by the National Assembly for the utilisation and expenditure of these grants.