The House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis yesterday gave the minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the permanent secretary in the ministry, Daju Kachollom, 72 hours to appear before it. They are to explain the alleged misappropriation of $300 million meant for the funding of malaria since 2021. The committee resolved that the permanent secretary should be arrested if she fails to honour the summons, having failed to appear before the committee after three invitations. The minister and the permanent secretary are also to answer questions on allegations of denying indigenous manufacturers of insecticidal nets from participating in the contract for the procurement of the product and other related products. Committee Chairman Amobi Godwin Ogah, who read the resolutions, expressed the displeasure of his members about the failure of the permanent secretary to appear before the committee. The chairman expressed consternation that the cost for the procurement of antimalarial commodities by the ministry was over $3 million.
