Typical of the corrupt-ridden Jonathanians! Now this slimy theif wants to steal more in his state, after taking credit for the astute leadership demonstrated by two APC governors in stoping Ebola.

-CramJones

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), a public-private global health organization that assists with vaccine procurement, yesterday released the findings from an audit of $29 million USD in funding given to Nigeria between 2011-2013.

The Programme Fiduciary Oversight team of Gavi, which is based in Geneva, found that the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Heath and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) were guilty of arrant malpractice and fraud.

The findings, released in Geneva, claim that the funds—intended for procurement of vaccines and health systems strengthening for children in Nigeria—were badly misused.

“The report describes systemic weaknesses regarding the operation of controls and procedures in national systems used to manage Gavi cash-based support,” Gavi stated.

Specifically, the report found that only an approximate “40 per cent of the total expenditure of N4.5bn (US$29m) in the period 2011-2013 was spent on procurement with the main categories being: printing N919m (US $5.8m); incinerators N184m (US $1.2m); drugs N243m (US $1.6m); rehabilitation and equipping of medical facilities N437m (US $2.8m); other procurement N90m (US $397k), motor vehicles N17.8 (US 113k).”

SaharaReporters extensively reviewed the final report, noting that after the release of a preliminary report of the audit, cash-based support was suspended in April 2014. “Remediation of the identified weaknesses will need to be undertaken before disbursements can start again,” the final report recommended.

Disbursed funds that had not been used were also frozen.

Following this, Gavi assigned UNICEF Nigeria to supervise pediatric health systems strengthening activities. “Gavi has asked UNICEF Nigeria to oversee the implementation of a limited number of activities that are deemed critical to routine immunisation and health system strengthening,” it said.

As part of its report, Gavi has officially called for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the finding and assure reimbursement of a portion of the funds.

“Gavi and its partners have a zero tolerance on the misuse of funds. When misuse is identified Gavi requires reimbursement,” Gavi said. “Inappropriate use of funds not only undermines confidence in development support but it means that the desired beneficiaries, who often already live in challenging circumstances, do not see much.”

“As a result of specific findings the Government of Nigeria has agreed to repay funds deemed to have been misused, which are quantified as US$ 2.2 million.”

The audit presents major questions for both the Nigerian Ministry of Health as well as NPHCDA. Weak leadership, disorganization, and conspiracy to commit fraud were all factors that the health organization feels contributed to the mismanagement of funding. “The audit identified fundamental weaknesses in controls around procurement including a lack of segregation of duties, ineffective oversight, and indications of collusion that created an environment that Gavi believes resulted in irregular activities.”

Among the irregular activities mentioned in the report were weaknesses in the management of disbursements to states.

In the year 2012, the total amount disbursed to the states was US $2m, despite an approved budget of US$3.2m. At the close of 2013, the total amount of advances disbursed was US $1.4m, despite an approved budget of US $6.4m.

“At the states, zones and LGA level, the audit noted delayed liquidation of advances and in many instances, no liquidation at all. For several states, advances remain outstanding for months or years. As at 31 December 2013, N157m (US$1m) was outstanding with N125m (US $935k) outstanding for more than 12 months. At the zone level, as at 31 December 2013, N37m (US $239k) was outstanding for more than six months.

Failure to properly track and ensure taxes were properly and justly paid was also a substantial issue.

The report said, “Total tax remitted to the Federal Internal Revenues Services (FIRS) for the period 2011–2013 according to the bank mandates was N62m (US$390,000) for Value Added Tax (VAT) and N89m (US$560,000) for Withholding Tax (WHT). The audit was unable to verify that payments were correctly made to the relevant tax authorities: specific accounts are not maintained in the accounting system for VAT and WHT to record and monitor the taxes paid.”

Another significant fault the report found was that a number of cash advances were used to pay staff allowances. Cash advances for staff training were also reportedly transferred into the bank accounts of NPHCDA accountants, amounts as high as N91 million (US$600k) going to individual staff members.

“The audit noted instances of discrepancies between the cash advance transferred to the accountants’ bank accounts and the amounts withdrawn by the accountants for planned programme activity,” Gavi says.

As a result of the findings, the oversight team made an extensive amount of recommendations to the organization.

The most significant of these was a full audit of all high-risk expenditures in prior years. “Because of the identified weaknesses in controls and indications of misuse, Gavi will undertake a full-scale audit to cover both select, high-risk expenditures in prior years, and other expenditure from the period 2011-2013 not examined in the course of this audit,” the report stated. Gavi also made clear their intent to seek repayment for missing monies through the EFCC.

While the Nigerian medical entities implicated in the report did not speak to the press on the matter, an October 17 letter titled Letter of Understanding on the Principles regarding the Gavi Cash Program Audit 2011-2013” and signed by immediate past Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu acknowledged weaknesses in the management of Gavi funds.

The letter, which was written in response to preliminary reports, assured Gavi that the Nigerian government would refund misappropriated money and would welcome further audits of Gavi funding.

The letter also promised steps would be put in place to deter corruption and increase accountability. “In response to the CPA, the Ministry of Health and NPHCDA have introduced a number of measures to immediately enhance the transparency and accountability of systems. These include the upgrading of the Internal Audit Unit to a department empowered to undertake physical verification; the introduction of routine checks to validate that purchased assets have been delivered and installed appropriately across the country; and the computation of a fixed asset register."

The letter furthers, “The Ministry of Health and Gavi appreciate the role of partners, particularly UNICEF and WHO, in channelling Gavi funds during the transitional period while the executing entities are strengthening their capabilities. For the longer term, the appointment of a fiduciary agent was agreed to oversee the financial management of Gavi’s grants at both federal and state levels.

The appointment of a fiduciary agent to oversee the financial management of Gavi’s grants to Nigeria, at both federal and state levels, has also been agreed between Gavi and the Government of Nigeria. The fiduciary agent will also be tasked to help remediate the weaknesses identified at Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

“This appointment will also support the enhancement of executing entities’ capacities to strengthen systems of transparency and accountability,” the statement concluded.

View the documents below.

http://saharareporters.com/2014/10/30/nigerias-ministry-health-others-mismanage-29-million-meant-vaccination-children%E2%80%94auditors

Look at the health minister people were hailing.

@CRAMJONES.

Cut the Minister some slack, at least his boss said "Ordinary Stealing isn't corruption".

He only moved the money nau! He didn't steal it. That's the Ebonyi State governor in waiting you know!

a Nigeria professor stolen this huge amount of money chaiiii this is very bad we shouldn't allow this corrupt politician to be our leader chaiii this is bad even he's contesting to be d governorship candidate of PDP in ebonyi state.

Op your title is misleading.

if this is true, only God knows what he would do when he becomes the governor of Ebonyi state

@op plz answer me, who is a saint in Nigeria system of government? I guess no one........... So let's stop been judegemental because it doesn't pay us

This government is a joke. And the igbo thieves that were part of it are shameless rogues, from stella oduah to chukwu now and their people celebrate them. Chukwu wants to be a governor , Stella plans to be in the senate. Are these the best the igbos can come up with? This same thief was indicted for corruption when he was CMD of Ebonyi state teaching hospital.

Only in the PDP will a foyose seek and get public office, only in the PDP will an alamaiseigha seek to be in the senate, only in the PDP will an ndudi elumelu seek to govern delta state, only in the PDP will a farouk lawan remain a honourable member of the house,

kudos to GMB for refusing to yield to pressure to handover the ticket of the CPC to Mohammed Abacha even at the cost of losing the seat in 2011

Kudos to the jagaban borgu despite tales by saTAN goons of how corrupt you are, you went to their court of ICPC and code of conduct bureau yet they found nothing on you and declare you stainless,you fly into UK and US everytime yet their alams and buruji kasamu dare not pass in front of their embassies there in abuja

Why is corruption institutionalised under the PDP from obasanjo to JonaTAN? God punish anybody who wish and support we continue in this blitz of corruption personified cabal.
Death to the PDP and everything it represents.

*in GEJ tone* stealing is not corruption...

Accusations plus counter accusations equal to status quo.

Where's the money again?

Land Rover Discovery SE7 Trail Edition for N1.7m
https://www.nairaland.com/1973996/land-rover-discovery-se7-tokunbo

Sunnybobo3:
Op your title is misleading.

Ok. Since Jonathan says Stealing is not corruption, I think the title should read: Onyebuchi Chukwu Stole Corrupted $29 million meant for
vaccines - GAVI.

Are you satisfied now

2008 report by The Nation newspaper says that Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu was sacked in 2008 for fraud by the Ebonyi State government.

Dr. Chukwu was at the time the Chief Medical Director of the state University Teaching Hospital, and the newspaper said the money, N36 million, was padded into the accumulated allowances and arrears to be paid to resident doctors when the government demanded for vouchers to be prepared for the payment to be made.

“Sources revealed that there was additional N36 million Naira to the total sum of N200 million, which was the actual amount that was supposed to be the accumulated wage bill causing the state government to suspect that the hospital management did not provide the actual figure for the payment of the allowances and arrears,” the report said.

Chukwu was immediately replaced on the post by Dr. Ekuma Aja, a renowned consultant surgeon and retired Rear Admiral of the Nigeria Navy.

The Nation said it was informed by hospital sources that Dr. Aja faced many difficulties upon assumption of duty arising from “a lot of needless actions” taken by his predecessor “in terms of victimization of some medical personnel on tribal grounds.”

President Jonathan has famously declared that stealing by government officials is not the same as corruption, and he normally ignores corruption reports involving federal officials.

Chai and I used to think that the man had some level of self respect o.

By God's grace, he will be the govnr of the state where he wan contest as long as the PDP wants his royal dumbness(GEJ) to be our president...

Olivers2J:
@op plz answer me, who is a saint in Nigeria system of government? I guess no one........... So let's stop been judegemental because it doesn't pay us

And u want the trend of corruption to continue?

anything is possible but let wait and see

nanauju:
Chai and I used to think that the man had some level of self respect o.

Try and read the article fully.

The federal government passenger in the ebola vehicle driven my the lagos state government.
Not surprised.

Yroouba people are saint starting for idiotic Awo to Obj from to their lord tinbu.the foolish op jump anytime an igboman is mention.op get a job for youself.ezi

Olivers2J:
@op plz answer me, who is a saint in Nigeria system of government? I guess no one........... So let's stop been judegemental because it doesn't pay us

A message is always as true as the messenger.
I've learnt to take any News from El-rufai owned Sahara reporters with a pinch of salt.

op u be mumu..i knw say anywia u hear or read igbo. cos u envy.one thing u n ur pipple knw no,be say d more u player hate on d igbo nation..the excel.y ur sorry ass is left behind to lament.Dr onyebuchi stood ndid his best for the nation wen d chips wia down.for urr info ..history v placed him in nigeria.
so u can run qll ur propanganda..n i will assure u it will end here on nairaland.no more no less.
u guys nearly succeeded with oduah,dn ihejirka now ia dr onyebuchi..nxt worgu or maybe.anyim.
am sorry boss..nxt just take ur case to court of competent jurisdiction n sue..since ur havin ur facts ..y bring it to nairlnd.yeye d smell..cramjones u be better n proper ode.Yoruba boy with goat brain.no go find job.
all other ministers na saint dm be.ba..ur yoruba brothers eey don d ruin d economy of this country since 1970..uknw see em ba..abi na so d country supose be if d did dia part..a.
abeg make we hia word..u fit stil carry ur propanda reach cnn oh.we just dnt give a Bleep.if it pain u carry dr onyebuchi go court or petition efcc.
mumu cramjones.

This is from Gavi's website, they know exactly where the fault lies. www.gavi.org/Library/News/Statements/2014/Review-of-Gavi-support-to-Nigeria/

The appointment of a fiduciary agent to oversee the financial management of Gavi's grants to Nigeria, at both federal and state levels, has also been agreed between Gavi and the Government of Nigeria. The fiduciary agent will also be tasked to help remediate the weaknesses identified at Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

The guilty agency in bold is headed by
Dr. Ado Jimada Gana Muhammad (Hausa)
his deputy is
Adefunke Adesope (Yoruba)
Leave Chukwu out of this.

Olivers2J:
@op plz answer me, who is a saint in Nigeria system of government? I guess no one........... So let's stop been judegemental because it doesn't pay us

^^^
This is a poor response. Very poor.

Collynzo29:
This is from Gavi's website, they know exactly where the fault lies. www.gavi.org/Library/News/Statements/2014/Review-of-Gavi-support-to-Nigeria/

u d mind d mumu...na to discredit any credible igbo man be his own.na envy..nottin more.i v told him i will employ him as my shoe shiner.since his jobless.
u dnt even nid to enighten am..he knws.he just delibrately wan twist d matter.
cramjones..i bu udele anumba m...
ewu

^^^ I am still looking for the part of the article that says Onyebuchi Chukwu stole money. Unfortunately, many have started cursing the man after reading the highly misleading headline.

Thank you Collynzo for telling us those who could be responsible for mismanaging the said money.

And the Chukwu haters also failed to see where the man acknowledged weaknesses in the management of the funds, called for more of such audits and also listed steps the ministry was taking to strengthen the process.

Olivers2J:
@op plz answer me, who is a saint in Nigeria system of government? I guess no one........... So let's stop been judegemental because it doesn't pay us

I can't bliv dis.... Gosh

The headline does appear to be misleading. It simply creates room for the foolish tribalism that weakens any argument for accountability in this place called Nigeria. But then, maybe that was the OP's intention - to incite a completely pointless online ethnic firestorm instead of forcing the federal government to explain this embarrassment. Who knows?

Let us move to the heart of the matter. I hope Nigerians can see what they have created with their own hands with the 'leaders' they have voted in time and time again. Scandal after scandal after scandal . And yet Nigerians do not have the moral courage or basic decency to insist on holding their governments accountable. How can a people be so stupiid?

The 'lovers' of Nigeria who claim they are more patriotic than anyone else should take a look at what GAVI has put up on its website. Awful, terrible stuff. I had never heard of GAVI before today. And yet my first briefing about GAVI is one in which it describes my country's federal health ministry as a criminally incompetent bureaucracy that deliberately mortgages the future of the unborn. Is this the way serious countries operate?

This is the story of this land. One atrocity or outrage after the other, each one even more egregious than the previous one. But the interesting thing about it is that it WILL continue. More children WILL die or be maimed by polio, rubella and other diseases until Nigerians say: ENOUGH.

The question is: When? When will Nigerians indeed say: "enough"?

I knew that nothing good will ever come out of Sahara reporters.

Enemies of truth.

Here is the truth:
http://www.gavi.org/Library/News/Statements/2014/Review-of-Gavi-support-to-Nigeria/