By Saint Mugaga

The House of Representatives on Monday began an investigation into the over $1.8 billion and $2.8 billion grants received by Nigeria from the Global Fund and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2021 and 2025 for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, as well as for strengthening health systems.

Declaring the session open in Abuja, Chairman of the House Committee on Infectious Diseases, Rt. Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, said the probe was essential to determine how the huge grants had been utilized and to ensure accountability in the management of funds aimed at tackling infectious diseases ravaging Nigerians.

Ogah recalled that the House had, during plenary on October 21, 2025, mandated the then Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control (ATM) to investigate the matter.

He commended Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and the leadership of the House for renaming and expanding the committee’s mandate to the House Committee on Infectious Diseases, reflecting a broader focus on public health threats.

“Nigeria continues to be battered by the ill effects of a greater burden of HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other numerous infectious diseasee.

“It appears that while budgetary allocations and donor funds are mobilized for the response against these health challenges, there is no reprieve in sight as Nigerians are ravaged daily,” Ogah said.

He said the hearing became necessary to ascertain what had been done with the huge grants received, stressing that 90 percent of the country’s intervention funds for these diseases came from international partners.

Ogah warned that Nigeria would no longer accept being a “mere spectator” in the management of grants given to it, insisting that donor funds must henceforth be managed in line with Nigeria’s priorities.

“Any grant or assistance being given to us without us managing such grant is unacceptable. If they would not give us such grants and assistance on our terms, then let them keep their grants,” he declared. “We must assert our capacity to take charge of our affairs, particularly in the response against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.”

He directed the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) to ensure that all principal recipients and implementing partners submit their implementation plans for approval by the National Assembly before funds are released.

“The era of spending Nigeria’s money without approval and accountability is over,” he warned.

Ogah also disclosed that the House was amending the NACA Establishment Bill to transform the agency into a multi-sectoral body with an expanded mandate. When passed, the agency will be renamed the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (NACATAM).

The hearing, he said, would help determine the level of transparency and accountability in the use of donor funds since 2021. “Anyone, whether state or non-state actors, must indeed account for every Nigerian kobo spent for the response against public health threats,” he stressed.

With the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund expected this month, Ogah said Nigeria must move away from dependency and inefficiency in managing donor resources.

“We must maximize and efficiently utilize the resources at our disposal by cutting out all forms of duplication and wastage, while allocating domestic resources to areas that will present greater value for Nigerians,” he said.

He revealed that the committee would work closely with the EFCC and ICPC to ensure that principal recipients and implementing partners of all grants account to Nigerians.

“This is even more critical when you consider that some funding for terrorist activities has been traced to grants and donor funds,” Ogah added.

He urged implementing partners to prepare for robust parliamentary oversight, noting that some lacked proper or verifiable office addresses. The committee, he said, would hold the Ministry of Health and the Country Coordinating Mechanism responsible for ensuring accountability from all entities receiving donor grants.

Ogah emphasized that the exercise was not a witch-hunt but a democratic measure to ensure transparency and value for public health spending.

“This exercise is an essential ingredient of democracy and should not be seen as a vendetta or warfare,” he said. “We are very clear in our vision to ensure that no Nigerian child dies before age five from HIV, Tuberculosis, or Malaria. We want to ensure that the advocacy and commitment that will lead to the elimination of infectious diseases in our country by 2030 are championed and owned by all relevant stakeholders.”

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, called for a gradual end to Nigeria’s dependence on foreign aid in funding its response to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Pate said the country must take greater responsibility for financing its health priorities as donor funding declines after two decades of support.

He described the probe as a welcome step toward transparency, accountability and domestic ownership of health programmes.

He noted that while donor assistance has saved millions of lives through HIV, TB and malaria interventions, Nigeria’s health spending remains below 15% of the Abuja Declaration target, warning that underfunding threatens sustainability.

Declaring the session open, Speaker Hon Abbas Tajudeen represented by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka, said the investigation reflects the parliament’s resolve to ensure transparency in health funding.

He said it would produce an evidence-based report on how the grants were received, utilized and their impact on public health, while strengthening accountability and governance in the sector.