Nigeria: CHRICED Writes NPHCDA over Bribery Claims

Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has called on the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) to investigate allegations of bribery against some of its officials.

There are claims that some officials of the agency are being bribed to issue Covid-19 vaccination cards without collectors taking the vaccine doses.

In an open letter to the Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, CHRICED noted that if the allegations were not investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted, the credibility of Nigerian vaccination cards on the global stage would be seriously affected.

The letter referenced a report by the Media West Africa Foundation alleging that some NPHCDA officials demand N5,000 from vaccine sceptics to issue vaccination cards.

‘Given the grave dangers posed by the illegal activities of your officials, CHRICED calls on the NPHCDA to immediately cause a detailed investigation of these allegations, with a view to holding any culpable officials or persons offering inducement to them accountable’, CHRICED Executive Director, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, noted.

‘We are of the firm view that those who are found wanting with respect to these infractions should be made to face the full wrath of the law, to serve as a deterrent to others.

‘However, beyond the reactive responses, CHRICED calls on the NPHCDA to put in place proactive measures to address the very serious threats posed by officials who would want to circumvent due process and abuse their positions for personal benefits.

‘CHRICED similarly believes that a robust monitoring mechanism involving critical stakeholders in civil society and the media should be put in place to ensure transparency, accountability, and deterrence against acts of corruption.

‘If this is done, officials in the field would come to terms with the fact that they are being closely watched and as such would be less willing to engage in condemnable acts which undermine the very essence of the ongoing vaccination process’.

Africa’s most populous nation, which commenced a second phase of Covid-19 vaccination in August, aims to vaccinate 40 percent of its population, or 80 million people, by the end of 2021 and another 30 percent by the end of 2022.

Source: CHRICED

Photo source: Maryland GovPics

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

About the Author