Following the financial donations made by organisations and individuals, both local and international, towards the fight against the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria, Follow The Money has assumed a responsibility of tracking the allocation and spending of funds to ensure transparency and accountability.

An initiative of Connected Development (CODE), Follow The Money is a network of journalists, data wranglers, development consultants, information analysts, legal practitioners and others interested in how open data can make the world transparent and accountable.

Development Diaries understands that the initiative uses social media and direct communication to reach out to the relevant individuals and agencies to gather detailed information concerning financial donations made and how they are being spent.

Detailed information about test kits, testing, and money allocation is being requested from agencies such as the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

During a press conference, the Community Engagement Manager at CODE, Busayo Morakinyo, noted how the Covid-19 pandemic had revealed inadequacies of the Nigerian health and education systems.

The initiative will also collaborate with key partners to put in place measures for countering the spread of fake news.

It is also encouraging individuals to provide support towards tracking Covid-19 relief funds, urging those in active online communities to engage in advocacy on social media to encourage the visibility of the transparency campaign.

It is understood that CODE intends to maintain its tracking and advocacy efforts even after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: Oxfam

Photo source: International Labour Organisation