House of Representatives launches investigation into $4.6bn in donor grants for health programmes
The Nigerian House of Representatives has inaugurated a committee to probe the utilisation of over $4.6 billion in grants received from the Global Fund and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2021 and 2025.
These funds were intended for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, three of the most persistent public health challenges facing the country.
At the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Hon. Amobi Ogah, Chairman of the House Committee on Infectious Diseases, emphasised the necessity of the investigation.
He noted that almost 90 per cent of Nigeria’s interventions against these diseases rely on foreign assistance.
He said the inquiry seeks to ensure that donor resources are managed efficiently and in line with Nigeria’s priorities.
“It is unacceptable for grants given to Nigeria to be spent without our oversight or approval.
”If partners are unwilling to allow us to manage these funds according to our priorities, then they should withhold them,” Ogah stated.
The lawmaker explained that while budgetary allocations and donor funding have been made available to combat HIV, TB, and malaria, the country continues to experience high disease burdens, raising concerns about the effectiveness of resource deployment.
He warned that Nigeria could no longer remain a passive recipient in the management of grants, underscoring the need for accountability and domestic control over these interventions.
Ogah also announced that the committee would work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to ensure full accountability by principal recipients and implementing partners of donor funds.
Highlighting a growing concern, he revealed that some funding for terrorist activities has been traced to mismanaged donor resources, making the oversight role even more urgent.
Ogah also disclosed that the House is considering amendments to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Establishment Bill, which would expand the agency’s mandate and transform it into a multi-sectoral body capable of coordinating the country’s health responses more effectively.
Supporting the investigation, Dr. Ali Pate, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, described the initiative as a step toward transparency, accountability, and greater domestic ownership of health programmes.
He urged the country to gradually reduce its dependence on foreign aid, pointing out that Nigeria’s health spending still falls short of the Abuja Declaration target of 15 per cent of the national budget.
“While donor funding has saved millions of lives over the past two decades, Nigeria must increasingly take responsibility for financing its own health priorities to ensure sustainability,” Pate said.
Opening the session, Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to ensuring that all grants received by Nigeria are properly accounted for.
The Speaker stressed that the inquiry reflected the parliament’s determination to safeguard public and donor resources for the benefit of Nigerians.
The committee is expected to call on both government agencies and international partners to provide detailed reports on fund utilisation, with the ultimate goal of establishing greater oversight and domestic control over Nigeria’s health financing.
