Civil group asks Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization to review Ngozi's appointment

CIVIC group the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has petitioned the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (Gavi) asking it to suspend the recent appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the chair of its board of directors.

 

Last month, Dr Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria's former finance minister, was named as the new Gavi chairman to take office in January 2016. She will succeed Dagfinn Høybråten, a former Norwegian health minister and current secretary-general of the Nordic Council of Ministers and in the role will also work closely with Dr Flavia Bustreo, the World Health Organisation's assistant director-general for family, women’s and children’s health.

 

However, CSNAC has petitioned Gavi calling for a review of Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment based on the circumstances surrounding the suspicious refund of $2.2m paid to Nigeria by the global body. CSNAC chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, noted that the appointment of the former minister brings to the fore a case of a conflict of interest, adding that the appointment also shows that she was being rewarded for her loyalty to the organisation at the detriment of her country.

 

He added that Nigeria refunded the money to Gavi without consultation with the ministry of health, which also exposes the gross abuse of office by the former minister. According to CSNAC, Gavi was rewarding Dr Okonjo-Iweala after she worked against Nigeria’s interest in a controversial $2.2m refund.

 

Mr Suraju added: “In view of the above, CSNAC is therefore by this petition, requesting that the recent appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as chairperson of the board of directors be reviewed and suspended until all the spurious allegations against Nigeria under this audit are proven by Gavi and the circumstances surrounding the suspicious and unpatriotic refund of the $2.2m are resolved.

 

 “In the wake of media reports of indictment by Gavi against the Federal Government of Nigeria over alleged misuse of funds through the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for the purpose of children vaccination in the country, we petitioned the NPHCDA to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, demanding a thorough investigation into the allegations that has globally dented the image of the county. Following our petition on this matter and reportage of same by local and international news media, we received a response, accompanied with evidences, from the NPHCDA, controverting claims that were contained in Gavi's Cash Program Audit."