By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has commenced an investigative on the over $1.8 billion and $2.8 billion grants received by Nigeria from the Global Fund and 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.

The inquiry, launched at an investigative hearing in Abuja, is being led by the House Committee on Infectious Diseases, chaired by Rep. Amobi Ogah. The committee’s mandate is to assess how the funds were disbursed and utilised, and to promote transparency in Nigeria’s public health financing.

In his welcome address, Chairman House Committee on Infectious Diseases, Rep. Amobi Ogah, explained that the investigation was key to determine how the huge grants was used and ensure accountability in management of the funds which was to address infectious diseases affecting millions of Nigerians.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that the investigation follows a resolution passed by the House on 21 October 2025, directing a comprehensive review of all donor-supported programmes under the health sector.

The newly restructured Committee on Infectious Diseases, which replaces the former Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control, will now oversee a broader portfolio of public health issues, with an emphasis on accountability and improved delivery of health outcomes nationwide.

Rep. Ogah commended the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and the leadership 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 explained that the investigation was to know 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.

“We must assert our capacity to take charge of our affairs, particularly in the response against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria”, he stated.

He instructed the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) to make certain that all principal recipients and implementing partners present their project implementation plans to the National Assembly for approval before any disbursement of funds.

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

Ogah further revealed that the House of Representatives was in the process of amending the NACA Establishment Bill to broaden the agency’s scope and transform it into a multi-sectoral institution. Once passed, it will be renamed the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (NACATAM).

He explained that the ongoing hearing was designed to evaluate the degree of transparency and accountability surrounding the utilisation of donor funds since 2021.

With the eighth replenishment of the Global Fund anticipated later this month, Ogah underscored the need for Nigeria to shift away from dependency and inefficiency in managing donor resources.

“Anyone, whether state or non-state actors, must indeed account for every Nigerian kobo spent for the response against public health threats.

“We must maximise and efficiently utilise 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 stressed.

He added that the committee would collaborate with the EFCC and ICPC to ensure that all principal recipients and implementing partners render proper accounts of their stewardship 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.

The committee chairman also called on implementing partners to brace for comprehensive parliamentary scrutiny, pointing out that several lacked verifiable office addresses. He noted that the committee would hold the Ministry of Health and the Country Coordinating Mechanism directly responsible for ensuring transparency from every entity receiving donor funding.

Ogah reaffirmed that the probe was not intended as a witch-hunt but rather as a necessary democratic process aimed at safeguarding transparency, accountability, and value in the nation’s public health spending.

“This exercise is an essential ingredient of democracy and should not be seen as a vendetta or warfare.

“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”, he said.

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.

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

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

He added that it will 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.