From Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Wednesday, urged the Federal government to ensure there is transparency and accountability in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccine and the entire vaccination process in the country.
The Executive Director, CISLAC, Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa, in a statement also appreciated the World Health Organisation (WHO) efforts in ensuring that low-and-middle-income countries have fair access to Covid-19 vaccines.
In distributing the vaccine, CISLAC cautioned against a replay of irregularities that accompanied the distribution of the COVID-19 palliatives in the country which includes, diversion, hoarding of palliatives and abuse of power.
In addition, CISLAC called on law enforcement agencies to investigate Covid-19 relief abuses and corruption allegations. “We, along with other partners, have repeatedly pointed at credible allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
“For example, between July 2020 and January 2021, the #FollowCOVID19Money project wrote about 30 FOI requests to MDAs. Many agencies could not account for the relief funds. We expect investigations and convictions for these crimes.
“On the other hand, the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), custodian of banking sector data showed that Nigerians trying to access several COVID-19 relief funds last year lost N2.75 billion to internet fraudsters and criminals that profit from lax security in the access to Covid-19 relief funds. Nigeria 2021 federal budget has large appropriations for the pandemic relief activities. These funds must be judiciously used to avoid leakages and systemic corruption, witnessed in similar schemes in the past.
“Therefore, CISLAC welcomes the adoption of the T.E.A.C.H; “T: Traditional Vaccination Campaign Approach; E: Electronic Self-Registration by Eligible Nigerians; A: Assisted Electronic Registration of Eligible Nigerians; C: Concomitant Vaccination alongside Electronic Registration; H: House-to-House Electronic Registration”. This protocol should be strictly followed and independently monitored.
“While outlining priority groups, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) mentioned Healthcare workers, Front line workers (including the Military, Police, Oil and Gas workers, Border Post officials) and strategic leaders. The last category of “strategic leaders” needs to be clearly explained to avoid ambiguity and suspicion amongst Nigerians. Verifiable data of vaccinated people must be proactively disclosed.
“The Ministry of Health and NPHCDA need to ensure that representatives of the media and civil society organizations are carried along in the distribution and vaccination process. This should be done in line with the proactive disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and the doctrine of openness
“Every corruption scandal, nepotistic behaviour and profiteering of the life saving vaccine provided to Nigeria through the UN-sponsored COVAX facility will outrage Nigerians and the international community. Similar scandals in Lebanon led the World Bank to the cancellation of the pandemic relief programs. South American countries saw politicians skipping the line and getting vaccinated ahead of critical workers. This led to their dismissal and even imprisonment in some cases.
“This action will encourage accountability and transparency and will prevent future scandals and reputational damage at times when Nigeria and the world request hundreds of millions of vaccines critical for ending the pandemic.
“As a responsible and patriotic organisation, we commit that nepotism, corruption and the abuse of power in the vaccination process will be our focus and will be revealed to the authorities and the public.”
