{"id":72571,"date":"2020-03-29T15:37:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-29T14:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=72571"},"modified":"2020-03-29T15:37:00","modified_gmt":"2020-03-29T14:37:00","slug":"in-foi-request-serap-seeks-weekly-publication-of-spending-details-on-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/other-news\/in-foi-request-serap-seeks-weekly-publication-of-spending-details-on-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"In FoI request, SERAP seeks weekly publication of spending details on COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the
\nFederal Government to “publish weekly details of exact funds and other
\nresources allocated by the authorities and received from the private
\nsector, as well as details of use and planned use of any such funds and
\nresources to combat the spread of coronavirus (or COVID-19) in Nigeria.”<\/p>\n

SERAP is also asking the Federal Government to: “disclose information on
\nthe exact number of tests that have been carried out for high-ranking
\npublic officials and politicians, the number of any such high-ranking
\npublic officials and politicians now in self-isolation or quarantine, as
\nwell as the exact number of tests that have been carried out for the
\ncountry’s poorest and most vulnerable people.”<\/p>\n

In two Freedom of Information requests sent to Dr Osagie Ehanire,
\nMinister of Health and Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, Nigeria
\nCentre for Disease Control (NCDC), SERAP said: “We are concerned about
\nthe lack of transparency in the use of the funds and resources being
\nmobilised to combat coronavirus, amid problems accessing the NCDC’s
\nwebsite, and reports that authorities are prioritising home testing of
\npoliticians, with some reportedly taking multiple tests.”<\/p>\n

According to SERAP: “politicians engaging in multiple tests for
\ncoronavirus have in turn slowed the number of tests for the country’s
\npoorest and most vulnerable people.”<\/p>\n

In the FoI requests dated 27 March, 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy
\ndirector Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “We are concerned
\nthat lack of transparency in the use of the funds and resources to
\ncombat COVID-19 would lead to diversion or mismanagement of resources,
\nunnecessarily cost lives, and result in serious damage to public health
\nin the country.”<\/p>\n

SERAP said: “We urge you to disclose the level of enforcement for home
\nquarantine system for high-ranking public officials, politicians and the
\nwealthy, and whether the Ministry of Health and NCDC are carrying out
\nspot checks to ensure strict compliance by these people.”<\/p>\n

The FoI requests read, in part: “Transparency and openness in the use of
\nfunds and operations of the Ministry of Health and NCDC would help to
\nreduce the risk of corruption or opportunism, build trust and engage
\nNigerians in the fight against coronavirus as well as safe lives.
\nTransparency and accountability are important to implementing an
\neffective response to COVID-19 and slowing the spread of the virus in
\nthe country.”<\/p>\n

“Given the importance of good hygiene like handwashing to any response
\nto COVID-19, SERAP would like you to disclose details of measures being
\nput in place by the Ministry of Health, the NCDC and any collaborative
\nwork with the Ministry of Water Resources to provide vulnerable
\nNigerians with safe water, sanitation, and hygienic conditions.”<\/p>\n

“We are concerned that millions of Nigerians lack access to an improved
\nwater source and to proper sanitation, thereby making them vulnerable to
\nCOVID-19 and other illnesses.”<\/p>\n

“Handwashing and social distancing will be very difficult to implement
\nfor the poorest and most vulnerable people in a country where water
\nshortages are routine and millions continue to drink contaminated
\nwater.”<\/p>\n

“Limited availability of water in several public hospitals across the
\ncountry will also make it difficult for medical workers and health
\nprofessionals to wash their hands and will therefore make it difficult
\nfor them to properly respond to COVID-19 and safe lives.”<\/p>\n

“We would be grateful if the requested information is provided to us
\nwithin 7 days of the receipt and\/or publication of this letter. If we
\nhave not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal
\nactions under the Freedom of Information Act to compel you to comply
\nwith our request.”<\/p>\n

“Any failure or refusal to provide the information requested will also
\nbe clearly inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the Freedom of
\nInformation Act.”<\/p>\n

“According to our information, the Nigerian government has approved a
\nN10 billion (Naira) grant (about $27 million) to fight the spread of
\ncoronavirus in the country. The government has also reportedly released
\nN5 billion (Naira) (about $13 million) special intervention fund to the
\nNigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).”<\/p>\n

“Also, banks, wealthy members of the private sector and foundations have
\nalso donated billions of Naira to help fund medical centers and provide
\nessential materials necessary to curtail the spread of coronavirus in
\nthe country.”<\/p>\n

“By Section 1 (1) of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2011, SERAP is
\nentitled as of right to request for or gain access to information,
\nincluding information on the exact amount of funds and resources meant
\nto combat the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.”<\/p>\n

“By Sections 2(3)(d)(V) & (4) of the FoI Act, there is a binding legal
\nduty to ensure that documents containing information relating to the
\nspending and operations to combat the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria
\nare widely disseminated and made readily available to members of the
\npublic through various means.”<\/p>\n

“The information sought, apart from not being exempted from disclosure
\nunder the FoI Act, bothers on an issue of national interest, public
\nconcern, public health, interest of human rights, social justice, good
\ngovernance, transparency and accountability.”<\/p>\n

SERAP therefore urged the Minister and NCDC director to:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 \u00a0 urgently disclose details of exact funds and resources from
\nfederal government, state governments and the private sector, as well as
\ndetails of use and planned use of any such funds and resources to combat
\nthe spread of coronavirus in Nigeria
\n2.\u00a0 \u00a0 disclose information on the exact number of tests that have been
\ncarried out for high-ranking public officials and politicians, the
\nnumber of any such high-ranking public officials and politicians now in
\nself-isolation or quarantine, as well as the exact number of tests that
\nhave been carried out for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable
\npeople
\n3.\u00a0 \u00a0 make Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC)’s website
\nfunctional and accessible and publish on your website and widely weekly
\nspending on initiatives such procurement, testing, early detection and
\nisolation of confirmed cases, follow-up
\n4.\u00a0 \u00a0 Disclose processes and procedures put in place to ensure that the
\nfunds and resources allocated to combat COVID-19 are not diverted,
\nstolen or mismanaged
\n5.\u00a0 \u00a0 Disclose measures to protect health workers and to encourage the
\ncountry’s poorest and most vulnerable people to come forward for testing
\nand to escalate testing for this group<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal Government to “publish weekly details of exact funds and other resources allocated by the authorities and received from the private…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-news"],"yoast_head":"\nIn FoI request, SERAP seeks weekly publication of spending details on COVID-19 - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/other-news\/in-foi-request-serap-seeks-weekly-publication-of-spending-details-on-covid-19\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"In FoI request, SERAP seeks weekly publication of spending details on COVID-19 - 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