The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a stern 30-day ultimatum to the United Nations and other international agencies operating within the country, demanding a comprehensive report on how funds received from donor agencies have been utilized over the years.
The ultimatum, which commenced on October 16 and concludes on November 15, came with a strong warning: if the UN and international agencies fail to provide a detailed account of their expenditure during this timeframe, the Federal Government will not hesitate to take legal action to compel them to do so.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, during a late-night press conference on Monday.
She raised concerns over the alleged misappropriation of a substantial amount, specifically $100 million, which amounts to approximately N103 billion, designated for a World Bank-sponsored project aimed at empowering women in various facets of life, particularly in the field of agriculture.
The minister disclosed that despite this substantial financial allocation, only a limited number of women were reported to have received stipends ranging from N30,000 to N60,000.
In addition to this, these women were reportedly still reliant on primitive tools for their agricultural activities, failing to incorporate modern techniques for their harvested farm produce.
Minister Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasized that the court action is driven by the imperative need to uphold the interests of Nigerian women. She further outlined the timeline for the ultimatum, indicating that from October 16 to November 8, the organizations in question would receive a pre-litigation letter. By November 15, if no satisfactory account is provided, legal proceedings will be initiated.
Kennedy-Ohanenye also assured the public that immediate action would follow the expiration of the ultimatum, promising that “by the next day, you will hear the lawsuit number. Let them come and defend the money they are using you to collect from donors.”
The minister expressed the firm demand for transparency, stating, “I demand from the United Nations and their agencies that we want an account of all the monies they sourced from donors in the name of Nigeria. We want to see an account of what they did so they will prove me wrong.”
She further criticized the alleged misuse of funds, citing inappropriate spending on policy-making, summits, and other expenses unrelated to the original purpose of the funds.
The minister stressed that such practices not only hindered the empowerment of the vulnerable but also contributed to the ongoing insecurity and low participation of women in politics.
Kennedy-Ohanenye questioned the lack of transparency in allocating funds meant for women’s empowerment and agricultural development, asserting that the funds had not been effectively utilized to uplift the target population. She argued that such practices were adversely affecting Nigeria’s ability to address issues like poverty, insecurity, and political participation.
In response to these concerns, the minister pointed out the mismanagement of the World Bank’s $100 million allocated for the women’s project. She cited a lack of progress and improvement in the lives of the intended beneficiaries and questioned why modern machinery and equipment, which would significantly enhance productivity, had not been acquired.
Kennedy-Ohanenye further disclosed that the Ministry of Women Affairs had purchased a machine costing less than $3,000, which could perform multiple tasks related to rice processing. This machine, she argued, would have been of immense benefit to the women involved in agriculture.
